 Sixteen Republican-led states challenged the administration in court, and a federal judge has blocked the president's decision to delay natural gas permits, which is a blow to the Biden White House. Officials in the red states raised constitutional questions about the administration's action and argued it would have a negative economic impact. Greg Clugston, Washington. Surveys of Chinese factory managers show a mixed outlook for the world's number two economy, with growth steady but not picking up a lot of steam.