The US Daily Letter Weekend Briefing

Major winter storm, funding deadline, and Greenland tensions dominate Washington

January 24-26, 2026

As a major winter storm bears down on the nation’s capital this weekend, Washington faces multiple converging pressures: a looming funding deadline, escalating immigration enforcement controversies, and the president’s Greenland ambitions straining transatlantic relations. Here’s what you need to know as the snow begins to fall.

Winter Storm Disrupts Political Calendar

A massive winter storm is poised to deliver disruptive amounts of snow and ice to the Washington region this weekend, with frigid temperatures ensuring accumulation persists for days. The timing complicates an already compressed legislative calendar, as Congress returns Tuesday facing a January 30 shutdown deadline with significant work remaining.

The weather will likely impact the capital’s typical weekend activity, but the policy implications extend beyond logistics. With six of twelve appropriations bills still pending and negotiations ongoing, any delay in congressional deliberations compounds time pressure heading into the final week of January.

Funding Deadline Looms with ICE Controversy

Congress faces its next government funding deadline on January 30, having passed only half of the necessary appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026. Negotiators released a massive 1,059-page funding package Tuesday covering Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security — but the legislation has already sparked Democratic opposition.

The controversy centers on Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding. The bill maintains ICE funding essentially flat at $10 billion for the fiscal year, despite the agency receiving $75 billion in additional money from Trump’s recent legislative victory. Many Democrats demanded restrictions on ICE operations following the fatal shooting of Renée Good by an ICE officer, but those restraints were excluded from the final package.

Rep. Ro Khanna called the bill “a surrender to Trump’s lawlessness,” while progressive Democrats vow strong opposition. However, senior Democrats including Appropriations ranking member Rosa DeLauro and Senator Patty Murray have endorsed the package, arguing that a shutdown would not restrain ICE given its substantial funding cushion.

President Trump himself predicted Thursday that another “Democrat shutdown” remains likely, though Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told ABC News there won’t be another shutdown, citing “good progress” in negotiations.

Greenland Deal Claims Strain NATO Relations

Trump returned from Davos this week claiming he has “the framework of a deal” with NATO for control of Greenland, even as he heavily criticized European leaders in his World Economic Forum address. The president has threatened 10% tariffs on goods from eight European countries over their opposition to U.S. control of Greenland, with implementation set for February.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Múte Egede said terms of any Trump deal remain unclear, stating “we have some questions.” The initiative has strained transatlantic relations at a moment when European security depends heavily on American commitment, particularly given ongoing tensions with Russia over Ukraine.

The administration’s foreign policy approach continues prioritizing bilateral deals over traditional multilateral frameworks, creating uncertainty among allies about American reliability and strategic direction.

Economic Boom Predictions Face Skepticism

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made waves in Davos Wednesday by predicting U.S. economic growth will exceed 5% in the first quarter of 2026 and reach 6% by year’s end. If accurate, this would mark the fastest growth since late 2021’s post-pandemic surge.

Wall Street economists remain skeptical. Most forecast 2%-2.5% growth for 2026, citing persistent headwinds including trade tensions from Trump’s tariffs and business uncertainty driven by shifting economic policies. Consumer sentiment surveys show Americans remain pessimistic about the economy despite technical indicators, with recent polling finding a majority believe the country is in recession even though it technically is not.

The disconnect between administration projections and independent forecasts reflects broader tensions around economic messaging. While third-quarter 2025 GDP expanded at a strong 4.3% annual rate, the labor share of national income has dropped to its lowest point since 1947, suggesting growth benefits are not broadly distributed.

Immigration Enforcement Continues Expansion

The Department of Homeland Security released data this week showing ICE detention has expanded 75% since January 2025, with the average daily population approaching the administration’s goal of over 107,000 people. The American Immigration Council documented this historic expansion in a report showing ICE is now using 104 more facilities than at the start of the year — a 91% increase.

The enforcement approach prioritizes deportation from custody rather than release pending hearings. For every one person released from ICE detention, 14.3 people are now deported directly from custody, up from a ratio of 1.6 in December 2024.

Minnesota has become a focal point of enforcement tensions, with ICE agents reportedly targeting members of the public based on race. State officials are asking federal judges to end the enforcement campaign, while the administration defends its approach. Trump’s Monday press conference included extensive discussion of Minnesota, showing criminal records of undocumented immigrants arrested in the state.

Congressional Oversight Battles

The House Oversight Committee voted to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after the couple ignored a summons to appear before the panel. The Clintons called the subpoena politically motivated and declined to testify.

Meanwhile, a recent Justice Department court filing revealed that Elon Musk’s DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) team may have accessed private Social Security data that was off-limits. The disclosure raises questions about oversight of the unconventional advisory operation that has wielded significant influence over federal workforce reductions.

Research Policy Shift

The Trump administration announced Thursday that human fetal tissue derived from abortions can no longer be used in research funded by the National Institutes of Health. The policy expands restrictions from Trump’s first term and represents a significant shift in biomedical research practices.

The government has funded fetal tissue research for decades under both parties, with scientists arguing the tissue has been critical for HIV and cancer research. NIH documents indicate the policy doesn’t end use of “cell lines” created years ago from fetal cells, but Director Jay Bhattacharya said the agency will soon seek comment on potentially reducing or replacing reliance on human embryonic stem cells.

The Week Ahead

Senate returns Tuesday to what promises to be an intense final push before the January 30 deadline. With six appropriations bills still pending, every legislative day counts. The House has already passed additional measures awaiting Senate consideration, but procedural obstacles and Democratic resistance on ICE funding could complicate quick passage.

Beyond appropriations, the administration continues implementing first-year priorities across multiple agencies. The pace of regulatory change, combined with enforcement initiatives and personnel decisions, has created an environment of rapid policy churn that both energizes supporters and alarms critics.

As Washington digs out from this weekend’s storm, the capital faces a week that will determine whether fiscal year 2026 funding finally achieves completion or whether another continuing resolution — or even another shutdown — becomes necessary. The stakes extend beyond government operations to encompass broader questions about institutional capacity and governance in an era of narrow majorities and deep polarization.