President Donald Trump has announced a one-time $1,776 check for eligible U.S. service members ahead of Christmas. The tax-free payment, funded through existing defense appropriations, is expected to reach nearly 1.5 million active-duty and reserve troops before the holiday.
President Donald Trump has declared Christmas Eve and December 26 as federal holidays for 2025, granting most federal employees an extended Christmas break. The White House order directs executive agencies to close on both days while maintaining essential services. This decision applies only for 2025 and does not permanently change the federal holiday calendar.
The first large-scale U.S. guaranteed income program is providing $500 per month in direct cash payments to eligible residents. The program follows clear income and residency rules and places no limits on how the money is used.
The U.S. House has approved a Republican-backed healthcare bill that allows enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies to expire at the end of 2025. The decision could lead to higher insurance premiums for millions of Americans while setting up renewed healthcare debates in Congress in 2026.
This new traffic signal concept introduces a fourth color white to indicate when autonomous vehicles are managing an intersection. The idea aims to improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and reduce congestion as self-driving cars become more common.
Real ID enforcement is now active nationwide, requiring passengers to present a compliant license or other approved documentation for domestic flights and access to secure federal facilities. This new phase emphasizes Social Security verification and may disrupt travel without proper preparation.
Illinois lawmakers have enacted Senate Bill 618, permanently authorizing cocktails to go and creating new licensing for craft distillers and event spirit sales, while clarifying statewide alcohol delivery and enforcement rules to support hospitality businesses and small producers.
