Even as the economy undergoes what may be wrenching changes, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to signal it could cut its key interest rate twice this year — the same forecast it issued in

Economists and traders alike view it as a near lock that the Fed will opt to hold rates steady at 4.25% to 4.5%; JPMorgan’s chief U.S. economist Michael Feroli said it “appears obvious” this will be the course of action, while the market prices in a 99% chance of a hold, according to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool.

Last spring and summer, The Fulcrum published a 30-part series on Project 2025. Now that Donald Trump's second term The Fulcrum has started Part 2 of the series has commenced. Project 2025, the 800-page right-wing policy blueprint for the Trump administration,