U.S. Weekly Roundup: December 22–28, 2025

Economy and Labor

Jobless claims remain low
The Labor Department’s Dec. 24 Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims report showed:

• Advance initial claims (seasonally adjusted) for the week ending Dec. 20: 214,000.
• Four‑week moving average of initial claims: 216,750.
• Advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate for the week ending Dec. 13: 1.3%, with 1,923,000 people receiving benefits.
• Initial claims in the comparable week of 2024 totaled 275,557, indicating lower claim volumes year‑over‑year.

New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) awards and reforms
The Treasury Department announced a double round of New Markets Tax Credit awards covering 2024 and 2025 and paired them with program changes:

• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund will modify NMTC allocation agreements to tighten rules on permitted uses and ensure compliance with federal anti‑discrimination laws and relevant executive orders.
• Treasury plans enhanced monitoring of awardees’ use of NMTCs to ensure funds support community revitalization consistent with program and legal requirements.

Federal Governance, Law, and Civil Liberties

Presidential message on National Pledge of Allegiance Day
On Dec. 28, the President issued a message for National Pledge of Allegiance Day, urging Americans to "rededicate" themselves to the U.S. flag, national heritage, and founding principles. The statement:

• Highlighted the Pledge of Allegiance’s origins in 1892 and its role in U.S. civic life.
• Recalled a prior executive order signed in summer 2025 aimed at "preserving the dignity" of the U.S. flag.
• Signaled plans to enforce accountability for acts of flag desecration tied to violence or lawlessness, including potential revocation of visas, lawful permanent residence, and naturalization for foreign nationals engaged in such acts, subject to existing law.

Extra federal holidays around Christmas
A separate executive order directed that executive departments and agencies be closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, 2025, giving most federal employees two additional paid days off around the Christmas federal holiday on Dec. 25. The order allowed agency heads to require staff to work if necessary for national security, public safety, or other essential operations.

DHS enforcement under the Laken Riley Act
The Department of Homeland Security reported that more than 17,500 non‑citizens had been arrested and detained in 2025 under the Laken Riley Act, which mandates detention for certain criminal offenses committed by people in the U.S. unlawfully. DHS and ICE described recent nationwide operations targeting individuals charged with or convicted of qualifying crimes.

State Department action on "censorship‑industrial complex"
The State Department announced visa restrictions against five foreign individuals it accuses of organizing efforts to pressure technology platforms to censor, demonetize, or otherwise suppress certain viewpoints in the U.S.:

• Designated individuals will generally be barred entry to the United States under existing immigration authorities.
• The Department said it is prepared to expand the list if additional foreign actors continue similar activities.
• The announcement noted that the Department of Homeland Security can pursue removal of certain individuals under INA §237(a)(4)(C) where applicable.

FinCEN border operation on money services businesses
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) detailed a data‑driven operation focusing on more than 100 U.S. money services businesses operating along the southwest border:

• The effort is based on analysis of over one million Currency Transaction Reports and 87,000 Suspicious Activity Reports.
• Early outcomes include six notices of investigation, dozens of referrals for IRS examinations, and more than 50 compliance outreach letters.
• FinCEN indicated it will continue the initiative and may pursue civil money penalties, injunctions, warning letters, and referrals for potential willful Bank Secrecy Act violations.

Defense, Military, and Security

New Trump‑class battleship program announced
The War Department and Navy announced plans for a new Trump‑class battleship program:

• First ship, USS Defiant, is projected for delivery in the early 2030s.
• The Navy’s notional goal is a fleet of 20–25 such ships.
• Ships are slated to be built entirely in U.S. shipyards by American citizens, with officials emphasizing "thousands" of anticipated U.S. jobs.
• Planned capabilities include hypersonic weapons, electromagnetic railguns, and high‑powered laser systems.

2025 recruiting results strongest in 15 years
The War Department reported that FY 2025 active‑duty recruiting met or exceeded goals in all services:

• Army: 62,050 recruits (101.72% of goal).
• Navy: 44,096 recruits (108.61%).
• Air Force: 30,166 recruits (100.22%).
• Space Force: 819 recruits (102.89%).
• Marine Corps: 26,600 recruits (100% of goal).
  Officials framed this as the highest recruiting performance in roughly 15 years.

2026 continental U.S. Cost‑of‑Living Allowance (CONUS COLA)
The War Department released updated 2026 CONUS COLA rates for uniformed service members stationed in the continental United States, effective Jan. 1, 2026:

• About 127,000 service members will receive COLA payments totaling approximately $99 million in 2026.
• Six military housing areas (MHAs) will begin receiving COLA.
• Eight MHAs will see increases, two will remain unchanged, two will see decreases, and nine MHAs will no longer receive COLA.

APFIT: over $1 billion to small businesses for FY 2026 projects
The War Department announced the first round of FY 2026 Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) projects, stating that cumulative APFIT awards have now surpassed $1 billion to small businesses. Selected 2026 projects include:

• $48.5 million for an Augmented Maneuver Vehicle for Satellites for the U.S. Space Force.
• $49.7 million for Real‑Time Command and Control at the Tactical Edge for the Army.
• $35 million for a Gremlin Low‑Cost Munition program for the Marine Corps.
• $35 million for the Trolling Uncrewed Navigation Assistant (TUNA) Seeker for the Marine Corps.
• $33 million for the Kraken 18 communications pod for the Navy.

Major defense contracts
War Department contract announcements for Dec. 22–23 highlighted several large awards:

• Raytheon Missiles and Defense (Andover, MA) received an $841.68 million fixed‑price‑incentive contract for fire units, including production hardware, software, associated services, spares, and documentation; work is expected to be completed by June 30, 2031.
• Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. (Monroeville, PA) received a modification to an existing contract for naval nuclear propulsion components; work in Monroeville (91%) and Schenectady, NY (9%) is expected to run through September 2034.
• A large Lockheed Martin modification increased a major program’s total contract value to $25 billion, with work now expected to be completed by July 16, 2035.
• Boeing Defense Systems was awarded a $2.044 billion task order for B‑52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP) Development, expected to finish by May 31, 2033.
• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. received a $59.98 million cost‑plus‑fixed‑fee contract for the VEYRON effort.

Industrial base investment in optics materials
Using Defense Production Act Title III funds, the War Department announced an $18.5 million investment (dated Sept. 26, 2025) in Lattice Materials, a U.S. producer of optical materials:

• Funding will expand capacity to produce optical‑grade germanium and silicon crystals.
• The project will also establish the capability to produce germanium metal from recycled scrap, aimed at strengthening supply resilience for infrared and other defense‑related optics.

U.S. Space Forces Japan marks first year
U.S. Space Forces Japan celebrated its first year of activation at Yokota Air Base:

• Officials reported growth in manpower, expertise, and operational capabilities.
• The component’s activation allows U.S. space forces in Japan to plan, integrate, coordinate, and execute space operations in support of U.S. Indo‑Pacific forces and to deepen integration with Japan’s Space Operations Group.
• The bilateral space partnership with the Japan Air Self‑Defense Force was described as having strengthened "exponentially" over the past year, with the U.S. component aiming to serve as the primary "one voice for space" in Japan.

U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria
The U.S. military conducted airstrikes in northwest Nigeria around Dec. 25–26 targeting militants described by U.S. officials as linked to the Islamic State group:

• The President and War Department said the strikes responded to attacks on Christian communities in the region.
• Nigerian officials publicly acknowledged requesting or cooperating on the strikes, while also managing domestic sensitivity over foreign military action on their territory.
• Reporting from affected villages described significant shock from the explosions, damage to homes, and concern about civilian impact; casualty figures and target identities are still being assessed by independent observers.
• The operation adds Nigeria to the list of countries where U.S. forces carried out airstrikes in 2025.

Foreign Policy and International Engagement

Global health MOUs under the America First Global Health Strategy
The State Department detailed significant expansion of bilateral global health agreements:

• Earlier in December, the U.S. concluded major health MOUs with nine African countries—Kenya, Rwanda, Liberia, Uganda, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Cameroon, and Nigeria.

  • These agreements collectively envision more than $8 billion in direct U.S. assistance and over $5 billion in recipient country co‑investment over up to five years, focused on infectious disease threats and health‑system strengthening.
  • MOUs generally have a maximum duration of five years and explicitly avoid automatic commitments of future U.S. assistance beyond the agreed terms.

• On Dec. 22–23, the U.S. announced new MOUs with Madagascar, Sierra Leone, Botswana, and Ethiopia, furthering the same strategy:

  • For Sierra Leone, the U.S. plans to front‑load over $30 million in 2026 to bolster disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, health workforce, and data systems. Sierra Leone is expected to assume most commodity, workforce, and laboratory costs by 2030. Targets include reducing malaria deaths by 75% and achieving HIV benchmarks where 98% of people know their HIV status and are on treatment by 2030.
  • The Madagascar arrangement seeks to increase antenatal care attendance from about 40% to 75% by 2030, among other maternal and child health goals.
  • MOUs with Botswana and Ethiopia similarly focus on infectious disease control and domestic financing commitments.

Honduras election and U.S. response
Honduras’ electoral authorities declared Nasry “Tito” Asfura the winner of the country’s presidential election after a protracted count and dispute period:

• Asfura, a conservative candidate who received public backing from the U.S. President, won by a narrow margin of roughly 28,000 votes, according to official tallies.
• The result followed weeks of controversy over delayed counting and "inconsistent" ballots, but the electoral authority certified his victory.
• The U.S. State Department issued a statement congratulating President‑elect Asfura, saying the United States looks forward to working with his administration on issues of prosperity, security, and regional cooperation, including potential shifts in Honduras’ external alignments.

Engagement with Palau
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Landau spoke by phone with Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr.:

• The readout emphasized U.S. support for strengthening Palau’s health care infrastructure.
• The two discussed increasing Palau’s capacity to combat transnational crime and drug trafficking.
• They also addressed steps to bolster Palau’s civil service pension system, within the broader context of U.S.–Palau Compact‑related cooperation.

Secretary Rubio’s call with French Foreign Minister Barrot
Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call with French Foreign Minister Jean‑Noël Barrot:

• Both sides discussed the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan, amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
• They agreed to continue cooperation on efforts to end the Russia–Ukraine war, including diplomatic coordination and support for Ukraine.
• The readout also referenced continued implementation of the U.S. President’s Gaza peace plan, with France and the U.S. coordinating on broader Middle East diplomacy.

Information Policy and Technology

Visa actions tied to online speech controls
The State Department’s actions against what it termed the "global censorship‑industrial complex" drew international attention, particularly in Europe:

• Public reporting identified several European figures, including former or current officials, whose U.S. visas were reportedly affected.
• The U.S. framed the moves as a response to foreign initiatives that seek to pressure American technology platforms into moderating or removing certain political content, characterizing these efforts as targeting American speakers and companies.

Weather, Transportation, and Infrastructure

Winter storm disruptions and air travel
A major winter storm system brought heavy snow and difficult conditions to parts of the United States during the holiday week:

• Significant snowfall affected regions including New York City and parts of the Northeast.
• Airlines canceled or delayed thousands of flights around Dec. 26, according to flight‑tracking data, as carriers and airports responded to storm warnings and operational constraints.
• The disruptions came as many travelers returned from the Christmas holiday, compounding congestion at major hubs.

Energy policy dispute over offshore wind
In the energy sector, Dominion Energy Virginia filed suit challenging a presidential order that halted an offshore wind project off the Virginia coast:

• The company argued the order blocking the project was "arbitrary and capricious" and inconsistent with existing regulatory approvals.
• The case adds legal uncertainty for large‑scale offshore wind development along the U.S. East Coast and could clarify the extent of executive authority over already‑permitted projects.

Summary

Across the week of Dec. 22–28, 2025, U.S. officials emphasized strong labor market data and significant new investments in defense technology, personnel, and industrial capacity. The administration advanced an "America First" approach in global health through bilateral MOUs while escalating enforcement in immigration, financial compliance, and information policy via visa actions and border‑focused financial investigations. Internationally, the United States deepened its military footprint and operations—from Space Forces Japan to airstrikes in Nigeria—while engaging diplomatically on conflicts in Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, and political developments in Honduras and the Pacific.