Washington DC Update January 29, 2026: What’s Happening on Capitol Hill This Week | US Daily Letter
Appropriations Deadlines, Trump Accounts Launch, Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Retirement, and the Venezuela Question
🏛️ The Shutdown Clock: January 30 Deadline Looms
Washington is digging out from last weekend’s blizzard, but Congress is digging through months of unfinished business. Schools reopened today after three days closed, and the capital remains blanketed in snow. Yet, the machinery of government grinds on—inefficient, unglamorous, and relentless.
This week, the story is not in grand speeches but in appropriations markups, procedural votes, and the quiet exits of institutional figures who held the line for decades.
The stakes:
Congress has nine days to pass six remaining appropriations bills or face another government shutdown. The fiscal year began on October 1, 2025, but only six of the twelve required funding bills have passed. The remaining six—Defense, Labor-Health-Education, and Homeland Security—are the most contentious and politically charged.
Today’s action:
The Senate convened at 10 AM to resume debate on H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act. A cloture vote on the motion to proceed is scheduled for 11:30 AM. The House passed a $215 billion package last week covering Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, and Commerce-Justice-Science. The Senate is expected to vote on this package early this week.
The problem:
The remaining bills fund agencies at the heart of political battles—Defense (foreign policy), Labor-Health-Education (abortion, DEI, pandemic preparedness), and Homeland Security (immigration).
Likely outcome:
Congress will likely pass a continuing resolution at the 11th hour, kicking the deadline further down the road. Shutdowns are bad politics in an election year, but Washington has a habit of cutting it close.
💰 Trump Accounts: The $15 Billion Experiment
On Wednesday, President Trump launched “Trump Accounts,” a federal savings program depositing $1,000 into investment accounts for every American child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028.
Key details:
• Initial deposit: $1,000 per eligible newborn
• Annual contributions: Up to $5,000 from family/friends, $2,500 from employers
• Investment: Low-cost index funds (expense ratio capped at 0.10%)
• Withdrawal: Locked until age 18 (with narrow exceptions)
• Projected growth: Up to $1.9 million by age 28 (with max contributions and high yields)
The cost:
With ~4 million births annually, the program covers 16 million children at a federal cost of $15 billion (including administrative expenses).
Corporate buy-in:
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Steak ‘n Shake will match the $1,000 contribution for employees’ children. Billionaires like Michael Dell ($6.25B pledge) and Nicki Minaj have also committed funds.
👋 Eleanor Holmes Norton: The End of an Era
On Sunday, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington D.C.’s 18-term Delegate and civil rights icon, announced she will not seek reelection.
Her legacy:
• 35 years as D.C.’s non-voting representative
• Secured in-state tuition for D.C. residents at public universities
• Brokered deals to transfer pension liabilities to the federal government
• Championed D.C. statehood and autonomy
🌎 Venezuela: The Question Congress Won’t Answer
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s military operation in Venezuela before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week.
What we know:
• U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro; he now faces narco-terrorism charges in New York.
• Maduro’s vice president is interim leader.
• The U.S. is “running Venezuela in the short term,” per Trump.
Congressional pushback:
Senator Tim Kaine introduced a resolution requiring authorization for continued military action. The Senate voted 52-47 to advance it—a rare rebuke of the administration’s unilateral approach.
📅 What to Watch This Week
• Mon-Tue: Senate votes on H.R. 7148 (shutdown fears ease if advanced)
• Wed: Health insurance CEO hearings (soundbites, not solutions)
• Thu: House markups on veterans, chemical safety, and transportation bills
• Fri: Deadline for public comments on Trump Accounts regulations
• Next Week: January 30 appropriations deadline
From the capital,
Where the frost on the windowpanes is the only thing certain.
— US Daily Letter, Washington Bureau