This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

Hope you’re having a marvelous Monday. The World Cup starts this week. It’s the second time ever the U.S. has hosted the event and the 12th time they’ve played in it. Shall we move on to the news now? ⚽🥅

Tomorrow: Maine, Nevada, North Carolina, and North Dakota will have primary elections. North Dakota will also decide on a statewide ballot measure. . Find your polling place and check your registration status at ASP’s Election Hub. 

I FLESH-EATING SCREWWORM FOUND IN TEXAS

U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have found flesh-eating screwworms in Texas. The screwworm is a parasitic fly that poses a significant threat to U.S. cattle herds and has been steadily moving north from Central America through Mexico. Officials recently identified an infected calf in La Pryor, Texas. The U.S. eradicated the screwworm in the 1960s, but concerns have resurfaced as cattle inventories have already fallen to their lowest level in 75 years. To contain the outbreak, officials plan to release millions of sterile flies.

>> Discover what’s happening with the flesh-eating screwworm here.

I INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AUTHORITY SET TO EXPIRE AT WEEK’S END

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) expires Friday. The provision allows U.S. intelligence agencies to intercept, read, and listen to emails and conversations involving foreign nationals without a warrant, even when those conversations include people in the U.S. normally protected by the Fourth Amendment. On Friday, a bill to reauthorize the program failed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate after six Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. Congress previously passed a temporary extension, but it remains unclear whether that will happen again, or if lawmakers will approve a longer-term reauthorization.

>> Dig deeper into Section 702 and proposals to reform it here.

 I HOUSE TO VOTE ON IMMIGRATION FUNDING

The House is expected to vote this week on legislation funding immigration enforcement agencies through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. The bill cleared the Senate last week and includes about $70 billion for ICE and Border Patrol. The funding would support agency operations, new detention facilities, border surveillance technology, and local police partnerships. It does not contain any of the provisions to put checks on immigration agents sought by Democrats in the wake of the shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minnesota. 

>> Learn about a proposal to prevent ICE agents from wearing masks here. 

I TRUMP ADMIN TO DISMANTLE OCEAN MONITORING SYSTEM

The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to end a $368 million deep-sea observation system used by scientists and researchers to understand climate change and ocean systems. The Ocean Observatories Initiative includes more than 900 instruments that collect data on ocean health. The move would bring the program’s annual expenses in line with the administration's budget request, going from about $39 million per year to $8 million per year.

>> Understand the U.S. climate change policy here.

I SOME GREEN CARD CHANGES ON PAUSE

The Trump administration has privately reassured business leaders that most people seeking green cards will not have to return to their home country to apply, according to reporting by The Washington Post. The reassurances follow a memo stating that applicants currently living in the United States must leave the country before seeking permanent residency. Immigration officials have since told applicants that the policy is on hold while the government develops additional guidance. According to DHS, those who “benefit the national interest and provide economic benefits to the United States” will continue to be able to apply for a green card from within the country.

>> Find out about the proposed green card changes here.

Google is asking permission to release 32 million mosquitoes in Florida and California as part of its plan to reduce mosquito populations.

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