During his second term, President Donald Trump has proposed various financial initiatives intended to assist Americans, including bonuses for select government employees and direct payments to citizens. Among these initiatives is the establishment of "Trump Accounts" as part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which aims to offer tax-free federal grants of $1,000 to children born in the coming years. However, other proposals, such as the $5,000 "DOGE Dividend" checks, have not advanced due to concerns about funding and feasibility. This concept, initially suggested by investor James Fishback and supported by Elon Musk, was based on projected savings that ultimately did not materialize.

In November, Trump indicated that his administration would provide at least $2,000 in dividend payments to citizens, excluding high-income individuals, funded by anticipated tariff revenues. However, analysts from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget have expressed skepticism, noting that the expected tariff revenue may not be sufficient to support such payments, particularly in light of the national debt and budget deficits.

Additionally, during a government shutdown that impacted many federal workers, Trump proposed $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers who continued to work without pay, addressing staffing shortages and operational challenges in the air traffic control system. The "Trump Accounts" initiative has received backing from various corporate leaders, with significant investments pledged to support the program. Furthermore, Trump announced a "Warrior Dividend" of $1,776 for military personnel, intended as a bonus to acknowledge their service. Overall, while these financial proposals reflect an effort to provide direct assistance, they face scrutiny regarding their practicality and fiscal implications.

In a separate legislative matter, Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing potential congressional action following the missed deadline for the release of the complete and largely unredacted files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Congressman Thomas Massie, a Republican, is drafting a resolution to compel Bondi to provide answers regarding the withheld documents. Massie had previously collaborated with Congressman Ro Khanna, a Democrat, to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by President Trump after significant political pressure. This law mandated that Bondi release all relevant files within 30 days, with specific exceptions, and required that any redactions be accompanied by written justifications.

On the deadline day, Bondi's deputy released a substantial number of documents but indicated that additional files would be released gradually. Massie and Khanna argue that this approach violates the law they enacted. In a joint interview, Massie suggested invoking inherent contempt against Bondi, a rarely used congressional power that allows for punitive measures against individuals who do not comply with legislative requests, which could include fines or detention. However, some lawmakers, including Senator Tim Kaine, have expressed caution regarding the push for contempt charges, advocating for alternative methods, such as leveraging appropriations bills, to ensure compliance without escalating to punitive measures. Kaine referenced a recent bipartisan effort to compel the Secretary of Defense to release specific military footage, highlighting the potential for collaborative solutions in Congress.