Blank Rome Government Relations LLC (BRGR) provides the Weekly Washington Update to inform you of recent developments in Congress and Washington. For information on President Trump’s Executive Orders and other actions, please see our Executive Order Tracker.
Special Announcement
With Congress in recess through the remainder of August, the Weekly Washington Update will be pausing publication for the rest of the month. We will continue monitoring significant legislative, regulatory, and executive branch developments and will resume our regular updates when Congress returns. We look forward to reconnecting with you in our next edition on September 4th. Thank you for reading and enjoy the rest of your summer.
Budget, Tax, and Small Business
Senate Sends Funding Bill Over to the House: Last Friday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a short-term continuing resolution (90-6) to keep the federal government funded from October 1 through December 11, avoiding a government shutdown ahead of the November midterm elections. The legislation notably excludes several priorities championed by President Trump, including approximately $70 billion in emergency funding related to the Iran conflict and provisions tied to a controversial voter identification proposal. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins described the measure as an important step toward preventing a damaging shutdown and said the administration supports the bill.
The bill also contains provisions sought by Democrats, including a restriction preventing the White House from implementing a grants policy that critics argued could steer federal funding toward Republican-leaning states. It further limits the use of a funding loophole for Border Patrol operations while allowing certain military and other administration-requested projects to proceed during the stopgap period. The legislation now moves to the House for consideration when lawmakers return on August 31. (BGOV)
President Trump Announces Tariffs on Key Component for Solar Panels and Semiconductors: President Trump announced a new trade action imposing a 15% tariff on imported polysilicon and related products, a move aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on China for critical supply chains tied to solar panels and semiconductors. The order also establishes minimum import prices for polysilicon, ingots, wafers, solar cells, and solar modules, while giving Customs and Border Protection authority to prevent importers from stockpiling products before the tariffs take effect. Administration officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, argued the policy will stimulate domestic manufacturing and expand U.S. production capacity in strategically important industries.
Although announced this week, the tariffs will not take effect until December 4, after the 2026 midterm elections and a planned Trump-Xi summit, reflecting concerns about consumer prices and ongoing trade negotiations with China. The action follows a Commerce Department national security investigation into the polysilicon supply chain, where China currently holds a dominant market position. The White House framed the measure as supporting U.S. semiconductor production and AI-related infrastructure, while supporters in the domestic solar industry called it one of the most significant trade protections ever enacted for the entire American solar supply chain. (Politico)
Defense and National Security
Boeing, Lockheed Martin Sued Over Israel Military Support: A proposed class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan alleges that Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Caterpillar, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio violated the Leahy Law by providing weapons, equipment, and support to the Israeli military despite allegedly knowing those resources could be used in ways that posed an unreasonable risk of harm during Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The plaintiffs, including the Arab American Civil Rights League and several U.S. citizens who claim their property was destroyed in Lebanon, argue that they continue to suffer threats to their safety, property losses, and emotional harm as a result of the conflict. They are seeking court orders requiring compliance with federal law and halting further transfers of military-related support to Israel. Lockheed Martin declined detailed comment, citing pending litigation, while the State Department also declined to comment. (BGOV)
Transportation, Trade, and Commerce
President Trump Extends Narrowed Waiver of US Jones Act Shipping Mandates: President Trump has extended for another 90 days a temporary waiver of the Jones Act, which normally requires goods transported between U.S. ports to travel on U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and U.S.-crewed vessels. The renewed waiver is significantly narrower than the original version issued in March 2026. It now applies primarily to energy-related commodities such as crude oil, gasoline, jet fuel, LNG, naphtha, soy oil, and fertilizers, and requires case-by-case reviews of individual voyages. Before granting an exemption, the Pentagon must consult with the Maritime Administration to determine whether qualifying U.S. vessels are available. The administration says the waiver is necessary to maintain access to critical resources and control energy costs amid disruptions to global oil markets caused by ongoing tensions with Iran.
The extension reflects a compromise between energy interests that support the waiver and maritime stakeholders who argue it weakens the domestic shipping industry. Oil and fuel producers credit the policy with increasing domestic shipments and preventing supply shortages, while shipbuilders and many congressional supporters of the Jones Act contend that repeated exemptions undermine a law designed to preserve U.S. maritime capacity and national security. The waiver has already been used for more than 230 coastal voyages, including increased shipments from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast and deliveries to Puerto Rico. Trump's decision highlights the administration’s continued concern over energy prices and the economic effects of instability in Middle Eastern oil supply routes. (BGOV)
Energy and Environment
Interior Will Reconsider Approval of New Jersey Wind Project: A federal judge has sent the Biden-era approvals for the Atlantic Shores offshore wind project off the coast of New Jersey back to the Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the National Marine Fisheries Service for reconsideration after the Trump administration and local opponents argued that the agencies may have inadequately analyzed the project’s impacts on tourism and marine life. The lawsuit was brought by groups including Save Long Beach Island and the Garden State Seafood Association, while BOEM stated it is reevaluating the approvals because there may be errors in the original rationale. Judge Jia M. Cobb approved the remand request, allowing the agencies to revisit their decisions while keeping the existing approvals in place unless they are later modified or withdrawn. Project developer Atlantic Shores opposed the move, arguing BOEM lacked authority to reconsider its approval, but the court held that federal agencies generally have the inherent power to revisit their own decisions. The case reflects the Trump administration’s broader opposition to offshore wind development and its efforts to review or halt previously approved projects. (BGOV)
Natural Resources and Native American Issues
Alaska Groups Appeal Ruling Approving Public Lands Transfer: Ten environmental organizations, led by the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, have appealed a federal district court ruling that allowed the transfer of nearly 1.4 million acres of federal land to the State of Alaska for mining, energy, and infrastructure development. The appeal was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit following a July 24 decision by Judge Aaron Christian Peterson, who partially dismissed the groups’ lawsuit challenging a broader planned transfer of 2.1 million acres.
The disputed transfer stems from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s February order revoking Nixon-era land protections covering areas along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and the Dalton Highway north of Fairbanks. Judge Peterson ruled that sovereign immunity prevented the groups from suing Alaska in federal court, denied their request for a preliminary injunction, and found they were unlikely to succeed on the merits. He emphasized that Congress promised Alaska more than 100 million acres of federal land when it achieved statehood and that continued land transfers were consistent with that commitment. The case remains active with respect to some remaining Interior Department land-transfer actions, while the appeal will determine whether the approved transfers may proceed. (BGOV)
Interior Advances Third Gulf of America Lease Sale: The Department of the Interior announced that its third Gulf of America offshore oil and gas lease sale (Lease Sale BBG3) generated nearly $82.7 million in high bids across 59 offshore blocks, with 16 companies submitting 69 bids totaling about $99.5 million. Held in New Orleans, the sale was conducted under requirements of President Trump’s Working Families Tax Cut Act and is being framed by the administration as part of its broader “American Energy Dominance” agenda. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and other officials said the lease sale will strengthen U.S. energy security, support jobs, encourage long-term private investment, and help keep energy affordable for American consumers.
The sale offered access to roughly 15,100 unleased blocks covering 80.4 million acres across the Gulf of America, with lease terms including a 12.5% royalty rate. Interior emphasized the Gulf’s importance as a major domestic energy resource, estimating it contains 26.9 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 45.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Officials noted that revenues from offshore development help fund federal and state programs, conservation initiatives, historic preservation, coastal restoration, and hurricane protection efforts. The Department stated that BBG3 reflects its commitment to expanding offshore energy production while maintaining responsible stewardship of offshore resources and reducing reliance on foreign energy sources. (U.S. Department of the Interior Press Release)
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