In Case You Missed It...

| By CBPP

This week at CBPP, we focused on income security, immigration, climate, food assistance, and state budgets and taxes.

On income security, Nick Gwyn condemned the Trump Administration’s attempted five-state funding freeze as unlawful, harmful, and a major threat to people in every state. Gwyn also testified before a House Ways and Means subcommittee about opportunities for child support reform.
On immigration, Margot Dankner explained that, consistent with its racist, anti-immigrant rhetoric, the Trump State Department has frozen visa processing for 75 countries, claiming without evidence that people from these countries are at “high risk” of becoming a “public charge.”
On climate, Rachel Jacobson and Mikaela Tajo explained how states can support an energy system that is affordable, safe, and reliable for all. Tajo described how federal agencies under the Trump Administration are changing the way they analyze costs, undermining health and safety. And Jacobson documented another instance of the Trump Administration ordering a fossil fuel energy plant to stay open past its intended retirement, costing ratepayers millions and undermining state authority.
On food assistance, Steven Carlson, Joseph Llobrera, and Zoë Neuberger detailed the research showing that WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) is a cost-effective investment in improving low-income families’ nutrition and health. Peyton McConnell and Luis Nuñez examined data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s last annual report on food security, which is ending despite the rising cost of food and cuts to food assistance.
On state budgets and taxes, Wesley Tharpe testified before the Vermont House Ways and Means Committee, summarizing the impact of the Republican megabill on states and stressing the need to prioritize raising new revenues. Jay Tomkus asserted that states should adopt a wealth proceeds tax to expand critical investments and mitigate the harm caused by the Republican megabill.

Chart of the Week — Administration’s 5-State Funding Freeze Is a Threat to Everyone’s Access to Public Services and Assistance

The Center was active on social media this week. Here are some of our posts:

Sharon Parrott posted a thread to X and Bluesky on the first year of President Trump’s second term.
Rachel Jacobson posted a thread to X and Bluesky on President Trump’s impact on electricity costs during the first year of his second term.
Jacobson also posted a thread to X and Bluesky detailing the Trump Administration’s deal with governors in the region served by the PJM power grid operator on addressing cost impacts of data center energy demand.
Parrott also posted a thread to X and Bluesky on the Trump Administration’s orders to investigate almost all federal funding to 14 Democratic-led states.

A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts recently. Here are some highlights:

Trump administration targets 14 blue states with sweeping federal funding review
CNN
January 22, 2026

Health insurance CEOs to appear before House committees as premiums soar
NBC News
January 22, 2026

Scammers Keep Stealing Food Stamps. New Cards Might Stop Them.
New York Times
January 22, 2026

States Can Push Back Against Reckless Federal Tax Policy. Here’s How.
Governing
January 22, 2026

Trump cut 2,800 federal jobs in Kansas City and thousands more in Missouri and Kansas
KCUR
January 21, 2026

dot Gov ’26: The Treasury Department and the Social Security Administration
1A
January 21, 2026

DOGE officials face Hatch Act referrals for work with org aiming to ‘overturn election results’
January 20, 2026
NextGov

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In Case You Missed It...

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CBPP