Federal Executive Branch
Here's a look at documents from the U.S. Executive Branch
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Treasury Dept.: Liberal States Blocking Historic Tax Cuts for Hardworking Americans and Workers
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following statement on Dec. 10, 2025:
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Liberal States Blocking Historic Tax Cuts for Hardworking Americans and Workers
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing refusal by several Democrat-led states to conform to key provisions of the July 4th bill that President Trump signed into law to deliver historic tax relief for American families and workers:
President Trump's tax cuts bill is the most pro-worker, pro-family legislation in a generation. It puts more
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued the following statement on Dec. 10, 2025:
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Liberal States Blocking Historic Tax Cuts for Hardworking Americans and Workers
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent issued the following statement today regarding the ongoing refusal by several Democrat-led states to conform to key provisions of the July 4th bill that President Trump signed into law to deliver historic tax relief for American families and workers:
President Trump's tax cuts bill is the most pro-worker, pro-family legislation in a generation. It puts moremoney directly into the pockets of hardworking Americans through No Tax on Tips for dedicated service industry staff, No Tax on Overtime for linemen and factory workers, and a new tax deduction for seniors who depend on Social Security.
Yet in a blatant act of political obstructionism, liberal strongholds like Colorado, New York, Illinois, and the District of Columbia are deliberately blocking their own residents from receiving these historic benefits at the state level. This partisan stonewalling is a direct assault on the very families and workers liberal politicians claim to champion. By denying their residents access to these important tax cuts, these governors and legislators are forcing hardworking Americans to shoulder higher state tax burdens, robbing them of the relief they deserve and exacerbating the financial squeeze on low- and middle-income households.
President Trump's vision is clear: real relief for the forgotten men and women of America, certainty for businesses, and momentum for growth. We call on these holdout states to immediately conform and stop punishing their citizens for partisan games. The American people voted for bold change, not bureaucratic roadblocks. Treasury stands ready to work with any state committed to delivering on that promise, but we will not stand idly by as this obstructionism drags down the national recovery. This is about fairness. This is about opportunity. And this is about putting America first, starting with the families and workers who make our economy the envy of the world.
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Original text here: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0331
OCC Releases Preliminary Findings From Its Review of Large Banks' Debanking Activities
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025:
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OCC Releases Preliminary Findings from Its Review of Large Banks' Debanking Activities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released preliminary findings from its supervisory review of debanking activities at the nine largest national banks it supervises: JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and BMO Bank.
The OCC conducted its supervisory review
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025:
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OCC Releases Preliminary Findings from Its Review of Large Banks' Debanking Activities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today released preliminary findings from its supervisory review of debanking activities at the nine largest national banks it supervises: JPMorgan Chase Bank, Bank of America, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank, U.S. Bank, Capital One, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and BMO Bank.
The OCC conducted its supervisory reviewin accordance with the President's Executive Order "Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans" to determine whether these institutions debanked or discriminated against any customers or potential customers on the basis of their political or religious beliefs or lawful business activities.
"The OCC is committed to ending efforts - whether instigated by regulators or banks - that would weaponize finance," said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould. "Although our work continues, the OCC is today providing visibility into the debanking actions against customers and lawful businesses taken by the nation's largest banks to ensure public awareness, and to halt these harmful and unfair practices."
The OCC's preliminary findings show that, between 2020 and 2023, these nine banks made inappropriate distinctions among customers in the provision of financial services on the basis of their lawful business activities by maintaining policies restricting access to banking services or requiring escalated reviews and approvals before providing certain customers access to financial services. For example, the OCC identified instances where at least one bank imposed restrictions on certain industry sectors because they engaged in "activities that, while not illegal, are contrary to [the bank's] values." Sectors subjected to restricted access included oil and gas exploration, coal mining, firearms, private prisons, tobacco and e-cigarette manufacturers, adult entertainment, and digital assets.
The OCC's findings confirm that these or similar policies and practices were in place at each of the banks reviewed. In a reaction to the observations Comptroller Gould stated, "It is unfortunate that the nation's largest banks thought these harmful debanking policies were an appropriate use of their government-granted charter and market power. While many of these policies were undertaken in plain sight and even announced publicly, certain banks have continued to insist that they did not engage in debanking. Going forward, the OCC will hold banks accountable for these actions and ensure unlawful debanking does not continue."
This review was first announced by the OCC in September 2025. While the OCC is releasing preliminary findings, its work continues to better understand the full extent and effect of these actions and their impact on affected industries and the American economy. The OCC is also still reviewing thousands of complaints to identify instances of political and religious debanking, which it will report on in due course and as appropriate.
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Original text here: https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-123.html
Barton Joins St. Louis Fed's Transportation Industry Council
ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Dec. 11 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis issued the following news release:
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Barton Joins St. Louis Fed's Transportation Industry Council
Jerry Barton, vice president of corporate strategy, financial planning and analysis at AutoZone in Memphis, Tenn., has been named to the Transportation Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The St. Louis Fed created four District Industry Councils in 2006, each designed to provide important feedback about economic conditions in key Eighth District industry sectors. The members' observations--along with
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ST. LOUIS, Missouri, Dec. 11 -- The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis issued the following news release:
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Barton Joins St. Louis Fed's Transportation Industry Council
Jerry Barton, vice president of corporate strategy, financial planning and analysis at AutoZone in Memphis, Tenn., has been named to the Transportation Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
The St. Louis Fed created four District Industry Councils in 2006, each designed to provide important feedback about economic conditions in key Eighth District industry sectors. The members' observations--along withthe economic data developed through the Federal Reserve Board's Beige Book and meetings of the Reserve Bank's board of directors--help ensure conditions in Main Street America are represented in monetary policy deliberations in Washington.
Each council is supported by one of the St. Louis Fed's four offices: St. Louis (real estate); Little Rock, Ark. (agribusiness); Louisville, Ky. (health care); and Memphis, Tenn. (transportation). The councils meet twice a year.
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Original text here: https://www.stlouisfed.org/news-releases/2025/12/barton-joins-transportation-council
BLS: Median Weekly Earnings Were $1,076 for Women, $1,333 for Men, in Third Quarter 2025
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document on Dec. 10, 2025, from Economics Daily:
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Median weekly earnings were $1,076 for women, $1,333 for men, in third quarter 2025
Median weekly earnings of the nation's 122.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $1,214 in the third quarter of 2025. Women had median weekly earnings of $1,076, or 80.7 percent of the $1,333 median for men.
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Chart: Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, current dollars, third quarter
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following document on Dec. 10, 2025, from Economics Daily:
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Median weekly earnings were $1,076 for women, $1,333 for men, in third quarter 2025
Median weekly earnings of the nation's 122.6 million full-time wage and salary workers were $1,214 in the third quarter of 2025. Women had median weekly earnings of $1,076, or 80.7 percent of the $1,333 median for men.
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Chart: Median usual weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by occupation and sex, current dollars, third quarter2025, not seasonally adjusted
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Among the major occupational groups, people employed full time in management, professional, and related occupations had the highest median weekly earnings--$1,912 for men and $1,466 for women. People employed in service occupations earned the least--$897 for men and $747 for women.
These data are from the Current Population Survey and are not seasonally adjusted. For more information, see "Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers: Third Quarter 2025" and more charts of usual weekly earnings data. Full-time workers usually work 35 hours or more per week at their sole or main job. The median is the midpoint in the earnings distribution; half of workers earn more than the median and half earn less.
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SUGGESTED CITATION
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Median weekly earnings were $1,076 for women, $1,333 for men, in third quarter 2025 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/median-weekly-earnings-were-1076-for-women-1333-for-men-in-third-quarter-2025.htm (visited December 11, 2025).
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/median-weekly-earnings-were-1076-for-women-1333-for-men-in-third-quarter-2025.htm
BLS Issues Report on Employment Cost Index - September 2025
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following report (No. USDL-25-1556) on Dec. 10, 2025, entitled "Employment Cost Index - September 2025":
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Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent and benefit costs increased 0.8 percent from June 2025. (See chart 1 and tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)
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Chart 1. Three-month percent change, seasonally adjusted,
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics issued the following report (No. USDL-25-1556) on Dec. 10, 2025, entitled "Employment Cost Index - September 2025":
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Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 0.8 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in September 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries increased 0.8 percent and benefit costs increased 0.8 percent from June 2025. (See chart 1 and tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)
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Chart 1. Three-month percent change, seasonally adjusted,civilian workers, total compensation
Chart 2. Twelve-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, civilian workers
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Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 3.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, for the 12month period ending in September 2025. Wages and salaries increased 3.5 percent and benefit costs increased 3.5 percent over the year. (See chart 2 and tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)
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Federal Government Shutdown
Publication of the September 2025 Employment Cost Index (ECI) was delayed by more than 5 weeks because of the lapse in federal appropriations. Collection of September data had not been completed prior to the federal government shutdown. After funding had been restored, any data self-reported by establishments during the shutdown were reviewed and included; however, survey response rates decreased in September. For more information on response rates, see www.bls.gov/eci/factsheets/response-rates-factsheet.htm.
The December 2025 ECI news release has been rescheduled and will be published on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. (ET).
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Chart 3. Twelve-month percent change, current dollar, private industry workers
Chart 4. Twelve-month percent change, constant dollar, private industry workers
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Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 3.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, for the 12-month period ending in September 2025. Wages and salaries increased 3.6 percent and benefit costs increased 3.5 percent over the year. Inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) wages and salaries increased 0.6 percent over the year. (See charts 3 and 4 and tables A, 5, 9, and 12.)
Compensation costs for state and local government workers increased 3.6 percent, not seasonally adjusted, for the 12-month period ending in September 2025. Wages and salaries increased 3.5 percent and benefit costs increased 3.8 percent over the year. Inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) wages and salaries increased 0.5 percent over the year. (See chart 5 and tables A, 7, 11, and 12.)
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Chart 5. Twelve-month percent change, not seasonally adjusted, state and local government workers
Table A. Major series of the Employment Cost Index
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TECHNICAL NOTE
The Employment Cost Index (ECI) measures the change in the cost of labor, free from the influence of employment shifts among occupations and industries. For information on survey concepts, coverage, methods, nonresponse adjustment, and imputation, see Employment Cost Index Handbook of Methods at www.bls.gov/opub/hom/eci/home.htm.
Sample size: Data for this reference period were collected from a probability sample of approximately 26,300 occupational observations selected from a sample of about 6,200 private industry establishments and approximately 7,300 occupational observations selected from a sample of about 1,400 state and local government establishments that provided data at the initial interview.
Standard errors: To assist users in ascertaining the reliability of ECI series, standard errors of all current quarter not seasonally adjusted 3- and 12-month percent change series are also available, see www.bls.gov/eci/factsheets/eci-standard-errors.htm and the database query tool at
www.bls.gov/eci/data.htm. Standard errors provide users a measure of the precision of an estimate to ensure that it is within an acceptable range for their intended purpose.
Historical listings: Historical ECI data are available in XLSX format at www.bls.gov/eci/tables.htm. The continuous occupational and industry series listing uses the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Manual and Occupational Classification System (OCS) series from 1975 through 2005 and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) from 2006 to the present. It provides the official series deemed continuous after the change in classification systems. For more information on the criteria used in defining continuous series, see the article published in the Monthly Labor Review at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2006/04/art2full.pdf.
Employer Costs for Employee Compensation data: The costs per hour worked of compensation components are published as part of the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) news release. The ECEC release dates are available at www.bls.gov/schedule/news_release/ecec.htm. Historical ECEC data are available in XLSX format at www.bls.gov/ecec/tables.htm. Since the ECEC is calculated with current employment weights rather than the fixed weights used in computing the ECI, year-to-year changes in the cost levels usually differ from those in the ECI.
Fixed employment weights: For additional information on the use of fixed employment weights in computing the ECI, see www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2016/article/introducing-2012-fixed-employmentweights-for-the-employment-cost-index.htm. Beginning with the December 2022 release, the ECI introduced new employment weights, see www.bls.gov/eci/notices/2022/eci-2021-fixed-weightsand-2018-soc-update.htm.
Seasonal factors: Detailed information on seasonal factors for the 2025 reference year and the revisions of historical seasonally adjusted data for the most recent five years can be found at www.bls.gov/eci/factsheets/annual-seasonal-adjustment.htm. More information on seasonal adjustment can be found at www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/2024/article/seasonality-in-the-employment-costindex.htm.
Additional information: Historical tables are available in XLSX format for constant dollar, current dollar, and continuous series, see www.bls.gov/eci/tables.htm. ECI release dates are available on the release calendar at www.bls.gov/schedule/news_release/eci.htm. Subscribe to receive the BLS Economic News Release email at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOLBLS/subscriber/new. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
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Table 1. Employment Cost Index for total compensation, by occupational group and industry1
Table 1. Employment Cost Index for total compensation, by occupational group and industry1 Continued
Table 2. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries, by occupational group and industry
Table 2. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries, by occupational group and industry -- Continued
Table 3. Employment Cost Index for benefts, by occupational group and industry
Table 4. Employment Cost Index for total compensation, for civilian workers, by occupational group and industry1
Table 5. Employment Cost Index for total compensation, for private industry workers, by occupational group and industry1
Table 5. Employment Cost Index for total compensation, for private industry workers, by occupational group and industry1 -- Continued
Table 6. Employment Cost Index for total compensation, for private industry workers, by bargaining status and Census region and division
Table 7. Employment Cost Index for total compensation, for state and local government workers, by occupational group and industry1
Table 8. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries, for civilian workers, by occupational group and industry
Table 9. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries, for private industry workers, by occupational group and industry
Table 9. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries, for private industry workers, by occupational group and industry -- Continued
Table 10. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries, for private industry workers, by bargaining status and Census region and division
Table 11. Employment Cost Index for wages and salaries, for state and local government workers, by occupational group and industry
Table 12. Employment Cost Index for benefts, by occupational group, industry, and bargaining status
Table 13. Employment Cost Index for total compensation and wages and salaries, for private industry workers by area
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View original text plus charts and tables here: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/eci.pdf
Argentina to Advance Sustainable Urban Development With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Argentina to Advance Sustainable Urban Development with IDB Support
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects for up to $700 million to help Argentina improve the living environment and sustainable development of its cities.
The program will expand access to basic services and promote territorial cohesion in the provinces for more productive, orderly urban development centered on improving living
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Argentina to Advance Sustainable Urban Development with IDB Support
The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects for up to $700 million to help Argentina improve the living environment and sustainable development of its cities.
The program will expand access to basic services and promote territorial cohesion in the provinces for more productive, orderly urban development centered on improving livingconditions for the population. The credit line will directly benefit over 100,000 households throughout the country, and indirectly benefit over two million people.
The Board has approved an initial $150 million individual loan under this credit line to support urban development in the Province of Neuquen. Neuquen was chosen for the first operation because of its challenges from rapid population growth, which has deepened gaps in access to basic services for its residents and drives informal urban development.
The first loan will finance works to expand basic services such as water, sewerage, and electricity, as well as urban infrastructure such as roads, public spaces, and community facilities. The program will also bring formal planning to low-income informal neighborhoods and land ownership. Additionally, it will bolster local institutions and governments by training specialized personnel in urban planning, among other measures.
The operation in the Province of Neuquen will contribute directly to the well-being of 23,000 households, while benefiting over 98,000 households indirectly, in both informal, working-class neighborhoods and more established neighborhoods with infrastructure gaps.
This project is part of the Bank's support outlined in the new 2025-2028 Country Strategy for Argentina, whose third pillar seeks to support vulnerable populations in reducing poverty, with an emphasis on improving urban conditions and access to essential services.
The IDB loan has a 25-year repayment term, a 5.5-year grace period, and an interest rate based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit our website: https://www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/argentina-advance-sustainable-urban-development-idb-support
Aberdeen Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Dec. 11 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota posted the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025:
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Aberdeen Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced an Aberdeen, South Dakota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on December 4, 2025.
Calvin Taylor, 42, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of
... Show Full Article
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, Dec. 11 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota posted the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025:
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Aberdeen Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine
United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced an Aberdeen, South Dakota man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on December 4, 2025.
Calvin Taylor, 42, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years ofsupervised release, fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Taylor was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 2, 2025.
In February 2024, Taylor began having packages of methamphetamine mailed to various addresses in Aberdeen and the surrounding area from a source of supply in California. Taylor then sold the drugs to other members of a conspiracy of which he was a member who distributed it in the Aberdeen area. Approximately 4.5 pounds of distributed methamphetamine was attributed to Taylor at sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Brown County Sheriff's Office, the Aberdeen Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Taylor must self-report to the U.S. Marshals Service on or before December 26, 2025.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/aberdeen-man-sentenced-25-years-federal-prison-conspiring-distribute-methamphetamine
