Spending

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spent $20 billion in taxpayer funds on grants for migrants during President Joe Biden’s tenure, fueling concerns that federal dollars were used to incentivize illegal immigration. According to data obtained by OpenTheBooks and reported by the New York Post, the funding covered purchases for cars, homes, college tuition, and business loans, among other services.

CNN legal analyst Elie Honig stated Monday that President Donald Trump’s efforts to address wasteful government spending and illegal immigration were “not unconstitutional.”

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday reversing President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Executive Order 11246, which mandated affirmative action for government contractors. The new order eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements in federal hiring, contracting, and spending, signaling a shift toward merit-based practices.

Vivek Ramaswamy is reportedly considering a run for Ohio governor, according to The Washington Post.

President Joe Biden announced that he is commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she plans to launch a state Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut government spending.

Scott Bessent, nominee for Treasury Secretary under the incoming Trump administration, is set to outline a bold economic agenda during his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday. According to prepared remarks, Bessent will emphasize the need to permanently extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while advancing new policies to reduce the tax burden on manufacturers, service workers, and seniors.

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey (R) issued several executive orders that eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from state universities and allow for religious exemptions for school vaccine requirements.

China’s 2025 Spring Festival travel rush, the world’s largest annual human migration, began Tuesday, with officials projecting a record 9 billion trips over the 40-day period known as chunyun. Centered on Lunar New Year, which falls on January 29, the season runs through February 12, culminating in the Lantern Festival.

California Democrats have reportedly reached an agreement to allocate $50 million to the state's budget as part of a legal fund to combat incoming president Donald Trump's policies in the state.