This week at the White House, several key initiatives are in focus. Here’s a summary of the major developments happening in Washington under President Trump. No opinions—just facts.
Trump’s Stablecoin Struggles
President Donald Trump’s new stablecoin, USD1, launched by his DeFi firm World Liberty Financial, is off to a slow start with limited demand and activity confined mainly to niche decentralized platforms. Despite initial trading volume spikes on PancakeSwap, a decentralized exchange, the token has struggled to break into mainstream, centralized markets like Binance, where volumes remain modest.
Analysts note that over half of the liquidity on PancakeSwap comes from just three wallets tied to the project’s own team, suggesting minimal organic user adoption. While Donald Trump Jr. claims USD1 is a strategic asset for both the family and U.S. monetary policy, current data shows the stablecoin remains far from mainstream traction.
Trump Cuts Weaken Hurricane Forecasting
John Morales, a veteran Florida meteorologist, cautioned that cuts to federal weather and climate agencies during the Trump administration have significantly impacted hurricane forecasting capabilities. Morales explained that reductions in staffing at the National Weather Service and NOAA have left key weather offices along Florida’s coast understaffed by 20% to 40%. These cutbacks, part of broader budget reductions, have created challenges for forecasters ahead of what is expected to be an active hurricane season, potentially limiting their ability to provide accurate and timely warnings to the public.
Trump Administration Cuts Over 100 Climate Research Grants
The Trump administration has halted more than 100 National Science Foundation (NSF) grants tied to climate change research, cutting tens of millions in funding for projects on clean fuels, methane emissions, and the climate impact on vulnerable communities. This move is part of a broader effort to slash federal support for climate science, reduce university research funding, and downsize key environmental agencies. Experts warn these actions risk losing a generation of climate researchers and severely hindering progress on clean energy and climate resilience.
