13 Min Read

Why Tech Companies Can’t Just Build Data Centers Anywhere They Want

Major tech companies including Meta, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft plan to spend somewhere between $660 billion and $690 billion in 2026. Amazon alone has committed $200 billion annually. Microsoft has…

23 Min Read

Which Federal Employees Work Without Pay During a Shutdown—And Why

This isn't a glitch in the payroll system. It's the intended outcome of how the United States government interprets its own laws during a shutdown. The workers affected include TSA…

An Independent Team to Decode Government

GovFacts is a nonpartisan site focused on making government concepts and policies easier to understand — and government programs easier to access.

Our articles are referenced by trusted think tanks and publications including Brookings, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, Pew Research, Snopes, The Hill, and USA Today.

Your Money & Home

If TSA Agents Walk Out, Can They Be Fired? What Federal Workers Risk in Shutdowns

On February 14, 2026, roughly 47,000 to 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents reported to work at America's airports knowing their…

Your Company Paid Tariffs. Here’s How to Prepare for Possible Refunds.

The Supreme Court has spent approximately 100 days deliberating over whether President Trump's tariffs violated federal law—a timeline measured from…

Billions Collected in Tariffs Could Be Refunded If the Supreme Court Rules Against Trump

If the Supreme Court rules these levies were illegal—a ruling that could arrive any day now—every dollar may need to…

Your Health & Safety

Inside the Grand Jury: The Citizens Who Check Prosecutorial Power

The jury refused to charge them. What Grand Juries Are Supposed to Do The Constitution requires that before the federal…

When Federal Agents Kill Citizens, These Laws Determine Accountability

On January 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jonathan Ross fired three shots in less than one second at…

The Federal Program That Lets You Buy Prescription Drugs From the White House

The discounts look dramatic. But here's what the White House doesn't emphasize: for most people with insurance, using the program…

Your Voice & Rights

The Speech or Debate Clause: Why Prosecuting Lawmakers Is Nearly Impossible

Grand juries indict more than ninety percent of the time when federal prosecutors ask them to. This wasn't one of…

Your Fourth Amendment Rights During Immigration Enforcement Operations

On January 7, 2026, federal immigration agents shot and killed Renée Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis mother and U.S. citizen, in…

When Government Officials Post Racist Content: What the Law Allows

On Thursday night, February 5, 2026, at 11:44 PM ET, President Donald Trump posted a 62-second video to Truth Social…

Your World

373 Judges Rejected This Detention Policy. Why ICE Can Still Enforce It.

Right now, 373 federal judges have rejected the Trump administration's sweeping immigration detention policy. Only 28 have sided with it.…

When Federal Courts Issue Conflicting Immigration Orders, This Is What Happens

More than 18,000 federal habeas petitions filed by detained immigrants since Trump took office. Over 4,400 favorable rulings issued by…

Detained Without a Bond Hearing? How to File a Habeas Corpus Petition.

Over 18,000 immigrants have sued in federal court saying their detention is illegal since the Trump administration took office. That's…

DHS Shutdown Begins: What Immigration Enforcement Looks Like Without Funding

The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Airport security screeners…

Trending Federal Guidance

Understanding the Social Security Earnings Limit

You can receive Social Security retirement or survivor benefits while still employed. However, if you begin receiving benefits before reaching your Full Retirement Age (FRA), specific rules limit how much…

21 Min Read

Understanding Your Passport Costs: A Clear Guide to Fees

Getting a U.S. passport is your ticket to international travel, but understanding the associated costs…

USPS Package Size Limits

Whether you're shipping products nationwide as a small business owner or sending gifts to loved…

Step-by-Step Guide for Applying for Social Security Benefits

Navigating Social Security benefits doesn't have to be complicated. This guide breaks down the application…

USPS Media Mail Rules and Restrictions

Media Mail is an economy shipping service provided by the USPS specifically for sending media…

Other Top Federal Guidance

Exempt vs. Non-Exempt Employees: Understanding Your Rights Under the FLSA

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the cornerstone of federal wage and hour law in the United States. Enacted…

Need More Time? Get a Tax Filing Extension

The annual tax deadline, typically April 15th, can approach quickly. Life happens, documents might be missing, or your tax situation…

Getting the Maximum Social Security Benefit

This guide provides a thorough overview, based on official information from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue…

Challenges for the U.S. Department of Education

The U.S. Department of Education building in Washington, D.C., houses the federal agency overseeing national education policy. Established in 1979,…

Guide to Employment Eligibility Verification

Ensuring a legally compliant workforce is a fundamental responsibility for all employers operating within the United States. A critical component…

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When DHS Shuts Down, Who Decides Which 200,000 Employees Keep Working?

On February 14, 2026, at 12:01 AM, the Department of Homeland Security ran out of money. Within hours, someone had to decide which of DHS's employees would keep showing up…

14 Min Read

If the Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs, Who Gets $133 Billion Back?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has collected roughly $2 billion per day in contested tariffs since President Trump imposed them using emergency authority—money that now totals more than $133 billion…

22 Min Read

Congress Can Mandate Body Cameras Through Spending Bills. Here’s How That Works.

Congress can force operational changes on federal agencies without passing a single standalone law. They do it through appropriations bills—the annual funding legislation that keeps the government running. Attach a…

18 Min Read

The 1977 Law That Governs Presidential Emergency Economic Powers

The Supreme Court heard arguments about President Trump's tariffs on November 5, 2025. As of Friday, February 13, 2026—99 days later—the justices still haven't issued their decision, though the case…

14 Min Read

When Supreme Court Delays Signal Deep Disagreement Among Justices

What it signals: The justices are deeply divided, not on whether President Trump's sweeping tariffs exceed his authority, but on something more fundamental. They're struggling to explain where presidential emergency…

12 Min Read

How Congress Uses Funding Deadlines to Control What Federal Agencies Can Do

On or around February 13-14, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security ran out of money. Not because Congress couldn't agree on a budget number—they had one. Not because anyone disputed…

18 Min Read

A DHS Shutdown Would Halt These Immigration Services—But Not Enforcement

When the Department of Homeland Security's money expires on February 13, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will keep investigating, detaining, and deporting people. Immigration courts will close. This imbalance…

13 Min Read

What Happens When Presidents Demand Prosecutions of Political Opponents

A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. refused to charge six Democratic lawmakers with a crime on February 11, 2026, despite prosecutors arguing they had committed a crime under federal…

18 Min Read

Can Military Members Refuse Orders? The Law Is More Complex Than You Think

A grand jury—a group of ordinary citizens—said no. While grand juries do typically approve most prosecutorial requests, they retain the legal authority to decline indictments when they find insufficient evidence…

20 Min Read

The Statutory Authority Behind ICE’s Mass Enforcement Operations

In December 2025, the Trump administration announced Operation Metro Surge, with initial arrests of about 12 people by December 5. In January 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deployed approximately 3,000…

11 Min Read

Can States Block Federal Immigration Enforcement? The Anti-Commandeering Doctrine

Minnesota deployed lawyers and courts against what federal officials called Operation Metro Surge—the real question is whether states have any power to resist when the federal government sends thousands of…

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