The Paper Trail: January 21, 2025
Trump’s Executive Orders; Trump’s Conflicts of Interest: An Illustrated Guide; States with Climbing Insurance Nonrenewal Rates; and More.
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Applications are now open for a two-day intensive Boot Camp on the art and practice of oversight and investigations hosted by POGO, the Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy, and The Lugar Center. This training is only open to staff in Congress. Apply at THIS LINK by TOMORROW.
Top stories for January 21, 2025
Trump’s executive orders: reversing Biden’s policies and attacking the “Deep State”: The flurry of executive actions roll back many of President Biden’s most significant domestic policies and reimpose an agenda that will rescind civil service protections for federal employees, freeze new regulations, launch drilling and mining on federal lands and waters, end DEI programs, and upend immigration policy. (Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Michael D. Shear, and Noah Weiland, New York Times)
🔎 See Also: Trump grants sweeping clemency to all Jan. 6 rioters (Alan Feuer, New York Times)
🔎 See Also: Trump order seeks end to birthright citizenship (Josh Gerstein, Politico)
🔎 See Also: Trump will send troops to build barriers on the southern border (Eric Katz, Defense One)
🔎 See Also: Trump signs executive order to halt TikTok ban, risking legal showdown (Cristiano Lima-Strong and Drew Harwell, Washington Post)
Here’s who is leading federal agencies as Trump nominees await confirmation: The agencies will be led in the interim almost exclusively by career federal executives, with Trump only bringing in one individual — interim GSA head Stephen Ehikian — from outside government to serve as a temporary chief. (Eric Katz and Sean Michael Newhouse, Government Executive)
An illustrated guide to Trump’s conflict of interest risks: A range of new business ventures — the publicly traded Trump Media & Technology Group, the World Liberty Financial cryptocurrency platform, overseas real estate deals, and numerous branding and licensing deals — expose President Trump to even greater potential for influence and manipulation than during his first term. (Karen Yourish, Eric Lipton, and Lazaro Gamio, New York Times)
🔎 See Also: Trump promotes meme coin, raising ethics issues as value soars (Tony Romm, Washington Post)
Dobbs Aftermath
Government website offering reproductive health information goes offline: The site, launched in 2022, contained information on access to abortion and reproductive health care and a Know-Your-Rights patient fact sheet. (Lauren Fichten, CBS News)
Defense and Veterans Affairs
Trump promises to bring back troops booted for refusing COVID vaccine: President Trump vowed to reinstate more than 8,000 troops dismissed from the military for refusing to take the COVID vaccine, promising them back pay that could cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars. (Leo Shane III, Military Times)
Business and Finance
California isn’t the only place where insurers are dropping homeowners: Insurance “nonrenewal” rates also have been climbing in Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina — all states hit hard by climate change. (Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post)
When the retirement community goes bankrupt: CCRCs are senior living facilities that provide comprehensive care at a single site, from independent and assisted living to nursing homes and memory care. CCRCs around the U.S. are increasingly experiencing financial troubles. When they fail, residents and families face not only the ordeal of relocating but also the possible loss of their life savings. (Paula Span, New York Times)
Health Care
Medicare patients seeking neurology appointment face weekslong wait: Medicare patients referred to a neurologist had to wait a median of 34 days before being seen, and nearly 1 in 5 waited more than 90 days, according to a new study. (Hannah Docter-Loeb, Washington Post)
Dementia cases in the U.S. will surge in the coming decades, researchers say: The number of Americans who develop dementia each year will double over the next 35 years to about one million annually by 2060. The number of new cases per year among Black Americans will triple. (Pam Belluck, New York Times)
Research indicates recreational ketamine use is on the rise: Recreational ketamine use has increased in the U.S. in recent years, outpacing its rise as a treatment for depression. The increase is of particular concern because using opioids and ketamine at the same time comes with a risk of overdose and death. (Erin Blakemore, Washington Post)
ICYMI
Immigration and Border Security:
→ Trump shuts down immigration app, dashing migrants’ hopes of entering U.S.
→ Trump administration quickly removes top immigration court officials
→ Fearing Trump’s deportation plans, immigrants turn to churches, lawyers
Other News:
→ Nearly $1 trillion: The staggering combined net worth cheering at Trump’s inauguration
→ False Claims Act settlements and judgments exceed $2.9 billion in FY 2024
→ How segregated are your local private schools? Use this tool to find out
Upcoming Events
📌 Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Senate Committee on the Budget. Wednesday, January 22, 10:00 a.m., 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
📌 Nomination of Daniel Driscoll to be Secretary of the Army. Senate Committee on Armed Services. Thursday, January 23, 9:30 a.m., G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
📌 Nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Thursday, January 23, 10:00 a.m., 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Biden Pardons & Commutations
- Francis W. Biden
- James B. Biden
- Sara Jones Biden
- Darryl Chambers
- Anthony Fauci
- Marcus Mosiah Garvey
- Mark Milley
- John T. Owens
- Valerie Biden Owens
- Leonard Peltier
- Robin Peoples
- Kemba Smith Pradia
- Ravidath “Ravi” Ragbir
- Don Leonard Scott, Jr.
- Michelle West
- Members and Staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack
- U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers Who Testified Before the Select Committee
- Commutation of the sentences of 2,490 individuals [RECIPIENT LIST]
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