Federal judge voids Trump's H-1B visa fee, Kennedy Center removes branding, SBF seeks pardon

A federal judge in Boston recently invalidated the $100,000 H-1B visa fee that former President Donald Trump's administration had imposed on skilled foreign workers, declaring the measure unlawful. This ruling came after a challenge brought by twenty Democratic state attorneys general. Concurrently, the Kennedy Center began removing President Trump's name from its digital branding, including its website, following a separate federal court order. This directive came after a judge ruled that the center's board had illegally attempted to rename the institution, stating that only Congress held such authority.

In related news, convicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has formally submitted a request for a presidential pardon from President Trump. Bankman-Fried, currently serving a 25-year sentence for fraud and conspiracy related to the collapse of his cryptocurrency exchange, has his application listed as pending with the Justice Department. This clemency bid comes despite earlier indications from President Trump that he did not intend to grant a pardon.