President Donald Trump has a busy week ahead, with a number of key events and deadlines on the horizon. Starting February, Trump is expected to speed through confirmations for his Cabinet picks, while also facing backlash from Canada and Mexico over new tariffs he imposed over the weekend.
The tariffs, which were announced Sunday, will add 25% and 10% duties on goods coming into the U.S. from Canada and China, respectively, in an effort to combat fentanyl and continued illegal immigration. Canada has already responded by announcing a 25% tariff on certain U.S. goods, while Mexico is planning to impose its own tariffs on the U.S.
This week, a number of Trump’s Cabinet picks will be appearing before various Senate committees, including Kash Patel, who will take on the role of FBI director, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is nominated to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Additionally, a deadline looms for federal workers to decide whether to return to the office or accept a buyout and severance package that would pay them through the end of September, part of Trump’s plan to trim the federal workforce. The Senate Budget panel will also vote on whether to move Russ Vought, Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Management and Budget, to a full floor vote.
On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release its first monthly jobs report since President Trump took office, with the U.S. expected to have added 49 consecutive months of job gains.
