More YUGE economic news as inflation rate drops BIGLY



With the Trump administration celebrating a surprisingly strong jobs report release earlier this week, more good news has come to close the week.

On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its January Consumer Price Index report, revealing some good news for the consumer.

According to the report, consumer prices rose 2.4% in January, marking a sharp decline from December's 2.7% rate.

CNN reported that this report was scheduled to publish on Wednesday but was two days late due to the partial federal government shutdown that ended last week.

According to the report, consumer prices rose 2.4% in January, marking a sharp decline from December's 2.7% rate.

RELATED: 'Golden Age of America is upon us!' Delayed January jobs report exceeds expectations

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Economists were surprised by the report, predicting a significant increase to the inflation rate, according to CNN.

Business Insider wrote that this was the lowest inflation rate since May 2025.

Not only was the January rate less than the November and December 2025 rate, it also shows a marked decline from four years ago.

In January 2022, one of the worst years for inflation during the Biden era, inflation was sitting at 7.48%, which was also among the slowest months of 2022, according to one source.

This unexpected turnaround in the inflation rate at the beginning of the new year will likely be taken into consideration by the Federal Reserve, which has maintained its higher interest rates in its effort to offset inflation.

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'Golden Age of America is upon us!' Delayed January jobs report exceeds expectations



After almost a week's delay, the Department of Labor released the highly anticipated January jobs report on Wednesday.

Originally scheduled for release on February 6, the January jobs report exceeded many experts' expectations.

'WOW! The Golden Age of America is upon us!!!'

The Department of Labor reported that 130,000 non-farm jobs and 172,000 total private jobs were added in January, nearly double the expectations set by one poll of economists, according to Fox News.

Furthermore, the unemployment rate was slightly lower than expected, sitting at 4.3% compared to the projected 4.4% rate.

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Fox noted that the Department of Labor revised the November and December jobs reports down by 17,000 jobs, taken together.

President Trump reacted to the latest jobs report with enthusiasm while also calling for other actions to improve the U.S. economy: "GREAT JOBS NUMBERS, FAR GREATER THAN EXPECTED! The United States of America should be paying MUCH LESS on its Borrowings (BONDS!). We are again the strongest Country in the World, and should therefore be paying the LOWEST INTEREST RATE, by far. This would be an INTEREST COST SAVINGS OF AT LEAST ONE TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR — BALANCED BUDGET, PLUS."

"WOW! The Golden Age of America is upon us!!!" Trump added.

The White House's Rapid Response X account reported some more job-related news on Wednesday morning: "Under President Trump, federal employment has declined to its lowest level since 1966 — and the lowest level in recorded history as a share of the total workforce."

The post included a chart showing federal employment over the last five years, showcasing a precipitous decline since January 2025. According to the chart, there were more than three million federal employees in January 2025, but that number dropped below 2.7 million by January 2026.

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Purdue Hiring 1,000 Foreigners In 5 Years Illustrates Higher Ed’s H-1B Problem

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Trump administration keeps Christ in Christmas in official holiday messages



In the spirit of the Christmas season, many departments of the Trump administration wished people a merry Christmas this week. And in most cases, they remembered to keep Christ at the center of the message.

In a video reposted by the Department of Labor, Fox News highlighted posts from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner.

'Merry Christmas, America. We are blessed to share a nation and a Savior.'

The Department of Labor's post was captioned, "Psalm 33:12. God Bless America."

Psalm 33:12 reads: "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X: "The joyous message of Christmas is the hope of Eternal Life through Christ. Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season filled with hope and peace."

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Rubio's post included an illustration of the Nativity scene with the words of Isaiah 9:6 below.

— (@)

In a separate post, the Department of State wrote: "Wishing the American people a joyous and peaceful Merry Christmas."

— (@)

"The Infinite has become an infant," Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner wrote on X. "As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we are reminded to adopt the humility, love of neighbor, and servant leadership that Christ embodied."

Likewise, the Department of Homeland Security's X account posted a short video of some of America's beautiful landscapes with the caption, "Rejoice America, Christ is born!"

The DHS posted another video with nostalgic Christmas footage accompanied by the caption: "Merry Christmas, America. We are blessed to share a nation and a Savior."

— (@)

In a humorous post, the Department of Energy posted an image of Santa Claus carrying a large sack of coal with the caption: "Merry Christmas! Coal isn’t just for the naughty this year."

Earlier in December, the White House posted video of President Donald Trump saying: "With the birth of Jesus, human history turned from night to day. His word and his example call us to love one another, to serve one another, and to honor the sacred truth that every child is specially made in the image of God. Merry Christmas!"

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Trump admin takes major step toward dismantling Department of Education



The Trump administration is advancing its plan to dismantle the Department of Education, seeking to return more power to the states.

The department announced on Tuesday that it had entered into six new interagency agreements with four government agencies to "break up the federal education bureaucracy" and "ensure efficient delivery of funded programs."

'What we want to do is to show Congress that this implementation works.'

These new agreements involved partnerships with the Departments of Labor, Interior, Health and Human Services, and State.

"Cutting through layers of red tape in Washington is one essential piece of our final mission," Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. "As we partner with these agencies to improve federal programs, we will continue to gather best practices in each state through our 50-state tour, empower local leaders in K-12 education, restore excellence to higher education, and work with Congress to codify these reforms. Together, we will refocus education on students, families, and schools — ensuring federal taxpayer spending is supporting a world-class education system."

The Education Department and the DOL will establish the Elementary and Secondary Education Partnership, which aims to "empower parents and states" to promote improvements in the education system that will better serve students.

"DOL will take on a greater role in administering federal K-12 programs, ensuring these programs are better aligned with workforce and college programs to set students up for success at every part of their education journey," a press release from the Education Department read.

A separate partnership with the DOL aims to improve postsecondary education and workforce development programs. The Labor Department will administer grant programs to "help students from all walks of life obtain the credentials and career training they need to prosper and contribute to the American economy."

RELATED: America's largest teachers' union declares war on the Trump administration, will use kids as foot soldiers

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The Department of the Interior will work with the Education Department to establish the Indian Education Partnership to improve Native American education.

"Through a vital partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of the Interior will assume administration for enhancing Indian education programs, streamlining operations, and refocusing efforts to better serve Native youth and adults across the nation," Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum stated.

The HHS will establish the Foreign Medical Accreditation Partnership to assess whether the standards of foreign medical schools are comparable to U.S. standards.

"Medical education must incorporate timely, rigorous science on nutrition, metabolism, and all medical subjects. [HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] is leading the charge with American medical schools and HHS will encourage foreign medical schools through this partnership," Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill stated.

HHS will also create the Child Care Access Means Parents in School Partnership to improve on-campus child care programs for parents attending college.

Lastly, the State Department will set up the International Education and Foreign Language Studies Partnership "to streamline international education program funding and data collection measures, consolidate program management, and advance national security interests."

RELATED: Trump admin battles teachers’ unions in latest Education Department legal challenges

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McMahon told CNN on Wednesday that these partnerships are not yet ready to implement but are in the "beginning stages" of establishing interagency agreements.

She acknowledged that the Trump administration would need congressional approval to make these moves permanent, adding that the current goal is to demonstrate that the changes will be effective.

"What we want to do is to show Congress that this implementation works," McMahon told CNN.

Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, has previously pledged to take legal action against the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle the Education Department.

Freedom Foundation CEO and Teacher Freedom Alliance President Aaron Withe responded to the Education Department's latest "bold action" and the union's roadblocks, in a statement emailed to Blaze News.

"President Trump is delivering on his promise to dismantle the federal education bureaucracy, and who is leading the opposition? Randi Weingarten and the teachers' unions," Withe stated. "The teachers' unions have enjoyed unprecedented power over this department since Jimmy Carter created it as a political favor to the [National Education Association]. They've had decades to deliver results. Instead, American students keep falling further behind while spending keeps going up."

"The unions oppose these reforms because they threaten the special access they've enjoyed for too long," Withe continued. "Well, that era is over. Parents, students, and local communities deserve better than a system designed to serve union bosses. The Freedom Foundation applauds President Trump and Secretary McMahon for taking bold action to break up this failed bureaucracy and return control of education where it belongs."

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Trump admin announces major H-1B visa abuse investigation, but critics want more



The H-1B visa program, which has effectively imported hundreds of thousands of immigrants, most of whom are from India, has gained much-needed attention in recent months as abuse of the system has come to light. On Friday, the Department of Labor provided an update on its September initiative, Project Firewall.

On Friday, the Department of Labor announced on X: "As part of our mission to protect American Jobs, we’ve launched 175 investigations into H-1B abuse."

The agency said that it had discovered a 'bounty of concerns.'

Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said that the Department of Labor is "using every resource at our disposal to put a stop to H-1B abuse and protect American Jobs. Under the leadership of @POTUS, we’ll continue to invest in our workforce and ensure high-skilled job opportunities go to American Workers FIRST!"

RELATED: 'Executive fiat': Biden-era rule change quietly permits H-1B visa holders to work remotely

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Fox News reported that government officials were unable to comment on the exact nature of the new investigations. The agency said that it had discovered a "bounty of concerns."

While the investigations are a sign of improvement, the number of investigations is strikingly low, critics say.

Virgil Bierschwale, a leading critic of H-1B visas and their impact on American workers, responded to the announcement, "I can quickly bring that up to 32,000 companies being investigated if you have the manpower."

The exact number of so-called "H-1B dependent employers" is unknown, but many are believed to be in the rapidly proliferating tech sector.

According to a Department of Labor fact sheet, an employer qualifies as H-1B dependent if it has eight visa workers at a company with fewer than 25 employees, 13 or more visa workers at a company with between 26 and 50 employees, or 15% of the workforce at companies with more than 51 employees.

On X, Eric Daugherty echoed the calls for increased investigations: "Good. We need MORE!"

Others pointed out that the abuse of the system should be cause for ending new visa approvals. One commenter said, "Why approve any when fraud is this rampant?"

This round of investigations follows the Trump administration's September 19 plan to force companies to pay $100,000 for new H-1B visas in an attempt to incentivize hiring American workers.

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Walmart, other major companies retreat from sponsoring H-1Bs following Trump administration's reforms



Last month, the Trump administration issued a proclamation targeting the abuse of the H-1B visa program. Though some confusion about the order ensued, the effects of this first attempt at reform are beginning to be felt at some major companies that have historically used H-1B workers, who hail primarily from India.

The proclamation, signed on September 19, 2025, was the first of what many hope to be multiple reforms of the H-1B visa program.

'No current or future sponsorship is available.'

The proclamation introduced a $100,000 fee for the sponsorship of new H-1B applications for those outside the United States. According to a White House fact sheet, the primary goals of the proclamation are to protect American jobs, combat H-1B abuses, and prioritize American workers.

This high price to pay for foreigners has caused some companies to rethink their hiring practices.

RELATED: Supreme Court rejects case that would reconsider H-1B-related visas

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The San Francisco Chronicle reported that major companies such as Walmart, Deloitte, and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation have shied away from extending sponsorships for new H-1B applicants.

Recent job postings dated after the proclamation in mid-September confirm that companies have changed their policies. Deloitte says in one post that qualified applicants for a software automation developer must not need employer sponsorship "now or at any time in the future."

Deloitte did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

Recent Walmart job postings also have an advisory to the same effect: "No current or future sponsorship is available," an October 2 job posting for a software engineer reads.

A Walmart spokesperson told Blaze News, "Walmart is committed to hiring and investing in the best talent to serve our customers, while remaining thoughtful about our H-1B hiring approach."

In a post from October 22, a Cognizant job opening has a similar message: "Cognizant will consider applicants for this position who are legally authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship."

In a statement to Blaze News, a Cognizant spokesperson said, "Cognizant has built a resilient business model that attracts top talent locally and globally. Over the past several years, we have significantly reduced our reliance on visas, using them only for select technology roles that supplement our U.S. workforce. We employ thousands of American citizens nationwide and have invested heavily in creating a robust local talent pipeline.

"The recently announced proclamation is expected to have limited near-term impact on our operations. Cognizant’s scale and global footprint provide multiple levers to continue to serve our clients in the U.S. and globally," the Cognizant spokesperson continued.

According to its website, Cognizant employs over 300,000 people around the globe, many of whom are employed in the United States through visa programs, particularly the H-1B visa.

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Project Firewall: DOL targets visa sponsors in unprecedented H-1B enforcement crackdown



The Trump administration has been facing increased pressure to fix the fraud and abuse of work visas in the midst of a multifaceted battle against the immigration problem. To that end, the Department of Labor's new Project Firewall promises to maximize measures for holding companies accountable if they are in violation of the law.

According to a press release detailing the plan for Project Firewall, the DOL and its relevant partners will increase accountability measures for H-1B-sponsor employers.

'By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first.'

Companies found to be in violation of the H-1B program rules may face "collection of back wages owed to affected workers, the assessment of civil money penalties, and/or debarment from future use of the H-1B program for a prescribed period of time," per the press release.

One notable characteristic of the plan, launched on September 19, is U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer will "personally certify the initiation of investigations for the first time in the department’s history."

RELATED: American jobs first: Hefty new H-1B visa fee will likely curb legal immigration, especially from India

Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

“The Trump administration is standing by our commitment to end practices that leave Americans in the dust. As we re-establish economic dominance, we must protect our most valuable resource: the American worker. Launching Project Firewall will help us ensure no employers are abusing H-1B visas at the expense of our workforce,” said Chavez-DeRemer in a press release.

“By rooting out fraud and abuse, the Department of Labor and our federal partners will ensure that highly skilled jobs go to Americans first,” she continued.

On X, the Department of Labor's account noted that Project Firewall "protects Americans and ensures they are prioritized in the hiring process."

The plan also involves a greater level of coordination among governmental agencies, including the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

While these increased measures of accountability will be met with some enthusiasm, others have expressed concerns about the Trump administration's handling of H-1B fraud, especially after the administration's partial walk-back of the $100,000 application fee it announced recently.

Data shows that each year the government receives hundreds of thousands of H-1B visa applications, almost all of which are certified. These jobs often break the six-figure salary threshold, which some people point out is not fair to American workers, many of whom are struggling to find a job in today's market.

The plan will presumably resume after the government returns from the shutdown caused by Democrats.

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