President Donald Trump has placed almost all workers for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on leave, calling the agency “corrupt” and signaling his intention to shut it down and merge it into the State Department. This move has angered Democrats who argue that Trump lacks the authority to eliminate an independent agency established by Congress in 1998. A major winter storm is forecasted to hit the Midwest and Northeast, causing potential travel disruptions. Despite concerns about their finances, Americans are shopping at record levels, possibly due to changing perceptions of affordability and higher wages in some sectors. Republican senators are preparing to confirm Trump’s Cabinet nominees, with key swing votes helping advance nominees for national intelligence director and Health and Human Services Secretary. In other news, USA Today covers the latest updates on Trump and LGBTQ Americans, and a photo of American skiers competing in Austria is shared. Nicole Fallert is the author of the USA Today Daily Briefing newsletter.
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