Trump admin updates: White House officials hold prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk

A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

"At this preliminary stage, the Court finds that Cook has made a strong showing that her purported removal was done in violation of the Federal Reserve Act's 'for cause' provision," U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb wrote in a ruling Tuesday evening granting a preliminary injunction.

Cobb will enter an order requiring the Federal Reserve to let Cook continue serving in her role.

The decision comes one week ahead of the Federal Reserve's next meeting, which is scheduled to begin on Sept. 16.

While the Trump administration asked the judge to delay her decision to allow an appeal, she denied their request in part because she said the public interest favors Cook staying in her role.

"Cook is one of seven members of a Board that is, by design, not intended to be susceptible to policy pressure, let alone tasked with implementing the President's agenda," Cobb wrote.

The judge concluded that Trump's attempted firing of Cook likely violated the Federal Reserve Act, which limits the basis for firing a governor to their behavior in office, and ran afoul of Cook's due process rights.

The judge said Cook demonstrated that her removal would cause irreparable harm, writing that the independence of the Federal Reserve is "critical in helping the nation's 'banking system to promote stability.'"

Cobb also criticized the Trump administration for advancing what she called an "absurd" argument about the scope of the president's power, which they argued allowed Trump to not only remove Cook but also barred a court from reviewing his action.

Cook's attorney, Abbe Lowell, applauded the judge’s ruling, saying it "recognizes and reaffirms the importance of safeguarding the independence of the Federal Reserve from illegal political interference."

The statement added that Cook will "continue to carry out her sworn duties as a Senate-confirmed Board Governor.”

-ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Alex Mallin, Peter Charalambous and Olivia Rubin

Trump praised the Missouri House of Representatives on Tuesday for passing a bill for a new congressional map that favors Republicans, saying on his social media platform that “this new Map will give the wonderful people of Missouri the opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections.”

Trump, who had openly advocated for Missouri and other GOP-led states to redraw their congressional maps, called on the Missouri Senate to pass it “AS IS”. The Senate is widely expected to pass the bill by the end of the week.

During debate on the bill, Democrats argued the plan was driven by the White House and intended to weaken minority representation

“Gerrymandering turns democracy upside down. It weakens trust in our government. It divides communities. It silences the very people we are sworn to serve. We all took that oath. Where is that integrity now?” Democratic state Rep. Marla Smith said. "The 103rd Assembly should stand for fairness, transparency, and the truth not political games.”

-ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim and Grace Sandman

Trump posted late Tuesday afternoon on his social media platform that trade negotiations are "continuing" with India -- saying that he'd be speaking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the "upcoming weeks."

"I feel certain that there will be no difficulty in coming to a successful conclusion for both of our Great Countries!" Trump wrote.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Asked by ABC News if he agrees with President Donald Trump's comments that certain vaccines work "pure and simple," Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said, "I agree with that."

Trump on Friday, when asked about the change in school requirements in Florida, said the decision ran the risk of spreading diseases and issued his support for vaccines that "work." Trump defended the polio and COVID vaccines, specifically.

"Look, you have vaccines that work. They just pure and simple work. They're not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used. Otherwise some people are going to catch it and they endanger other people," Trump told reporters.

ABC News also asked Kennedy about any further changes he plans to make to vaccine access, beyond the COVID shot. He said the CDC panel meeting later this month would make that determination after a "real gold standard scientific review."

-ABC News' Cheyenne Haslett