If you’ve been keeping an eye on the headlines lately, you know things in D.C. are moving at a breakneck pace. It’s a lot. Honestly, trying to keep up with the federal government of the United States news today feels a bit like trying to drink from a firehose. Between the massive shifts in how agencies buy software and the ongoing battles over state versus federal power, the landscape of 2026 looks nothing like it did just a few years ago.
Take the latest from the Treasury Department. On January 12, 2026, Secretary Scott Bessent pulled together a major ministerial meeting focused on critical minerals. Why does that matter to you? Basically, the government is terrified of supply chain disruptions for the stuff that makes your phone and electric car work. They’re trying to build a "wall" around these resources with our allies so we aren't reliant on adversaries.
The OneGov Strategy and Your Tax Dollars
One of the biggest stories in federal government of the United States news this week involves how the government spends your money. It’s usually pretty boring, right? Not this time. The General Services Administration (GSA) just dropped a massive update on their "OneGov" strategy.
For decades, different government agencies would buy the same software at wildly different prices. One office might pay $100 for a license while the office next door paid $500. It was a mess. Now, the GSA is flexin' its muscles as a unified buyer. They’ve signed agreements with basically every big name you can think of—OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle.
The numbers are actually pretty wild:
- They’ve secured discounts of up to 90% on commercial software.
- Total contract savings since early 2025 have topped $60 billion.
- They just canceled half a billion dollars in "underperforming" contracts.
It’s an attempt to run the government more like a business. Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum is calling it "common-sense" acquisition. Whether you like the current administration or not, seeing the government stop overpaying for basic office tools is a rare win for the taxpayer.
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Pay Raises and the Border Surge
There's also been some major movement regarding the people who actually run the government. On January 11, 2026, a new pay scale went into effect. Most federal employees saw a 1% base increase, which honestly isn't much when you consider inflation.
But there’s a catch.
Front-line law enforcement—the folks at the border and in the DOJ—are getting a much bigger bump. We're talking a total 3.8% increase. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is using "special salary rates" to make this happen. They’re worried about losing people to the private sector, especially with the "Operation Metro Surge" currently happening.
Speaking of that surge, it's causing a massive legal fight. On January 12, Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison filed a federal lawsuit to stop thousands of DHS agents from conducting raids in the Twin Cities. The state is arguing that the federal government is overstepping its constitutional bounds. It’s a classic Tenth Amendment showdown.
Why the Greenland Bill is Trending
You might have seen the "Greenland" headlines popping up. It sounds like a joke, but Congress is taking it seriously. On January 13, 2026, Rep. Jimmy Gomez introduced the "Greenland Sovereignty Protection Act."
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The bill is designed to block any federal funding from being used to "invade, annex, or purchase" Greenland. Apparently, there’s enough talk behind the scenes about acquiring the territory that some lawmakers felt the need to literally outlaw spending money on it.
Major Changes at the CDC and FDA
If you have kids, the federal government of the United States news regarding health is probably the most relevant to your daily life.
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the CDC just announced a massive overhaul of the childhood immunization schedule. They aren't banning vaccines, but they are "aligning" the U.S. schedule with what they call "international consensus." This follows a directive from the President to look at how other developed nations handle shots.
Meanwhile, the FDA is going through its own "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) phase. They are currently in the process of:
- Phasing out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food.
- Revoking authorization for specific dyes like Citrus Red No. 2.
- Defining "ultra-processed foods" for new labeling requirements.
It’s a massive shift in how the government regulates what we eat. The goal is to move the industry toward natural alternatives, but expect your grocery bill to reflect some of these changes as companies have to reformulate products.
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The 2026 Budget Reality Check
We have to talk about the debt. It’s not fun, but it’s the reality of the federal government of the United States news.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) just released the numbers for the first three months of Fiscal Year 2026. The U.S. borrowed $601 billion in just 90 days. That’s a staggering amount of money. Maya MacGuineas, who heads the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, is sounding the alarm again. She’s pointed out that we are getting dangerously close to Social Security and Medicare insolvency.
House Appropriators are currently trying to push through the final 2026 funding bills to avoid another shutdown. They’ve managed to pass a few "minibuses" that fund the VA and the FDA through the rest of the year, but the big fights over the EPA and the Department of Education are still looming.
Actionable Steps for Navigating These Changes
Politics is noisy, but these federal shifts have real-world consequences for your wallet and your community. Here is how you can stay ahead of it:
- Check Your Paycheck: If you are a federal employee or contractor, verify your new 2026 pay rates. The 1% increase (or 3.8% for LEOs) started on the January 11 pay period.
- Review Food Labels: Keep an eye out for "MAHA-compliant" labels or changes in ingredient lists. As synthetic dyes are phased out, many of your favorite snacks will start looking a little different (less neon, more earthy).
- Monitor the "OneGov" Impact: If you own a small business that sells to the government, the new centralized procurement rules might make it harder to sell directly to individual agencies. You’ll likely need to look into GSA Schedules or "OneGov" partnerships to stay in the game.
- Watch the Courts: The Minnesota lawsuit against DHS will likely set the tone for how "Operation Metro Surge" proceeds in other states. If the court grants a restraining order, expect other states to follow suit immediately.
The federal government in 2026 is leaner in some places and much more aggressive in others. Staying informed isn't just about following the drama—it's about knowing how these massive policy shifts will eventually land on your front door.