Overview
A summary of major federal actions, agency releases, and diplomatic statements published or active between Jan. 26 and Feb. 1, 2026. Items below draw on daily roundups and official releases from the White House, DHS, State, Treasury, and Labor Department.
White House: domestic policy and research
- The administration published CEA research, “The Economic Impact of State Income Tax Elimination” (Jan. 28). The analysis projects for the average state: a 1–1.6% increase in GDP; a 16–19% rise in new startups; about a $4,000 increase in average wages; and an influx of high‑income taxpayers if states phase out personal income taxes. Two revenue‑replacement scenarios were modeled: (1) broadening the sales tax base with full revenue replacement, implying an average sales tax rate under 8%; and (2) base broadening paired with spending‑growth limits, implying an average sales tax rate of ~6.2%.
- Executive action on wildfire recovery: an Executive Order titled “Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters” (signed Jan. 23; posted Jan. 27) directs FEMA and SBA to consider regulations to preempt state/local permitting delays for federally funded rebuilding, requires agency rulemaking timelines (proposed within 30 days, final within 90 days), and calls for audits and possible enforcement related to nearly $3 billion in unspent Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds awarded to California.
- The White House posted materials and daily roundups for the week (Jan. 26–Feb. 1) covering federal enforcement actions, labor data, disaster funding, and diplomatic engagements.
Department of Homeland Security and enforcement
- DHS highlighted “worst of the worst” arrests during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota (Jan. 27). The release named multiple noncitizens arrested for offenses including kidnapping, child rape, assault of an officer, drug offenses, attempted fraud with immigration documents, and repeated illegal reentry. DHS repeated a statistic it publicized: that 70% of ICE arrests nationwide are of noncitizens charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S.
- DHS also released a video (Jan. 28) honoring Megan Bos, a murder victim whose alleged offender, Jose Mendoza‑Gonzalez, was arrested by ICE after walking free following state court proceedings. DHS cited sanctuary‑policy critiques and highlighted the relaunch of the VOICE office for victims of immigration‑related crimes.
- DHS announced Secretary Noem’s unlocking of $2.2+ billion in federal funding (Jan. 29) to rebuild communities hit by past disasters. FEMA will distribute funds via the Public Assistance program to support more than 1,700 recovery projects; specific allocations cited included emergency protective measures for North Carolina and debris removal funds for Kentucky.
Treasury actions and sanctions
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC) announced sanctions designating senior Iranian security officials and Iranian‑linked financial actors for violent repression and corruption (press release dated within the week). Designations included Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni Kalagari and businessman Babak Morteza Zanjani; two UK‑registered digital asset platforms (Zedcex and Zedxion) were designated, with Treasury noting one exchange processed significant transaction volumes since registration. Designations block property and interests in the U.S. of designated persons and require reporting to OFAC.
State Department and international economic ties
- Joint Statement: 11th U.S.–UAE Economic Policy Dialogue (released Jan. 27). The statement noted the Jan. 15 dialogue in Abu Dhabi, reaffirmed cooperation on trade, critical minerals, AI, and supply chains, and stated that the UAE committed to invest $1.4 trillion in the U.S. over the next decade. It also said the UAE joined the U.S.‑led Pax Silica Declaration (Jan. 14) and that the UAE plans to co‑host the 2026 U.N. Water Conference with Senegal. The statement noted expectations for formal inauguration of a UAE–U.S. Treasury Engagement Framework on illicit financing in 2026.
- Joint Statement: Fifth U.S.–Bahrain Strategic Dialogue (release in the same period) reviewed Bahrain’s investment commitments announced in 2025, a September 2025 Enhanced Border Security Agreement, and Bahrain’s Tier‑1 ranking in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons report for an eighth consecutive year.
Labor Department and workforce initiatives
- The Department of Labor set National Apprenticeship Week 2026 for April 26–May 2 (press release Jan. 28). The department stated events will take place across all 50 states and territories, reaffirmed a goal of reaching 1 million apprentices, and reported that more than 2 million people have participated in National Apprenticeship Week events since 2015.
- DOL announced winners of the 2025 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards (release Jan. 30), honoring over 880 employers committed to veteran employment. The program reported nearly 290,000 veterans have been hired since inception and that 2025 medallion honorees hired over 74,000 veterans in the prior two years.
Federal election, campaign finance, and FEC training
- The Federal Election Commission announced it will host a webinar for nonconnected PACs on March 18, 2026; the FEC said registered participants will receive materials and log‑in instructions before the session.
Local impacts and federal disaster funding
- FEMA allocations and public‑assistance funding (DHS Jan. 29) included: more than $200 million to North Carolina for emergency protective measures tied to Hurricane Helene; more than $114 million to Kentucky for waterway debris removal after severe storms and flooding. The DHS release said FEMA’s disbursements will support 1,721 recovery projects nationwide.
Immigration enforcement: enforcement posture and local cooperation
- A White House article (Jan. 27) described targeted immigration enforcement in Minnesota and summarized coordination with local officials; it said ICE/CBP resources may be reduced once violence decreases and emphasized prioritization of criminal noncitizens and national‑security threats. The piece referenced Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s comments that county jails can notify ICE of release dates so ICE can take custody upon release.
Notable media presence: presidential gaggle and travel
- Video posted to YouTube shows an informal press interaction (a gaggle) involving President Trump aboard Air Force One on Jan. 31 while traveling to Palm Beach, Florida. No official transcript was posted; agencies’ releases during the week referenced the travel and related readouts. (Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvgGnWcxRhE)
Context and sourcing notes
- This roundup is based on official releases and daily roundups published by the White House, DHS, State Department, Treasury/OFAC, and Department of Labor during Jan. 26–Feb. 1, 2026. Where agencies reported statistics or claims with policy implications (for example, DHSs repeated 70% ICE arrest figure or the CEA modeling of tax‑reform outcomes), those claims are attributed to the issuing agencies and should be evaluated in light of their incentives to support administration policy priorities.