US digest: shutdown vote nears, Anthropic, Toyota and Meta's investments

In a day marked by significant policy and corporate developments, Washington and Wall Street were abuzz with activity on Wednesday.

The White House issued an unexpected warning about potentially missing federal economic data, while major US and global companies—including Anthropic, Toyota, and Meta—announced major investments across artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, lawmakers prepared for a decisive House vote that could finally end the nation’s record-breaking government shutdown.

White House says October jobs report may never be released

The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was unlikely that the federal jobs report or the consumer price index (CPI) for October would be released, even after the government shutdown ends.

Leavitt warned that “October CPI and jobs reports [are] likely never being released,” describing the situation as a permanent impairment to the federal statistical system.

Her remarks suggested policymakers at the Federal Reserve could face a critical information gap, operating “blind” without key labor and inflation data.

The statement contradicted prior expectations.

As recently as Monday, Morgan Stanley analysts predicted the delayed reports would be published within days of the government reopening.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged the uncertainty, saying on October 29 that missing data could complicate decision-making ahead of the Fed’s December policy meeting. “If you’re driving in the fog, you slow down,” Powell remarked.

Anthropic unveils $50 Billion AI data center expansion

Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic announced plans to invest $50 billion in custom data centers across the United States, beginning with facilities in Texas and New York set to open in 2026.

The San Francisco-based company—valued at $183 billion following a $13 billion funding round—said the expansion will create 800 permanent jobs and 2,400 construction roles, aligning with the Trump administration’s AI Action Plan to bolster US dominance in artificial intelligence.

Partnering with Fluidstack, Anthropic aims to build gigawatt-scale data centers optimized for its Claude AI models, moving away from reliance on cloud providers like Amazon and Google, both of which remain investors.

The investment underscores a growing industry shift toward vertical integration, granting AI firms greater control over infrastructure amid surging global demand for compute power.

Toyota expands US footprint with $10 Billion investment

Toyota announced it will invest up to $10 billion in its US manufacturing operations over the next five years.

The move follows the recent launch of its $14 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Liberty, North Carolina—its first outside Japan.

The North Carolina facility, which began production Wednesday, is expected to create 5,100 new jobs and supply batteries for hybrid models including the Camry HEV, Corolla Cross HEV, and RAV4 HEV.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy praised the move as evidence of confidence in US manufacturing policy, calling it “a show of faith in reshoring and job creation.”

Meta breaks ground on $1 Billion AI data center

Meta Platforms announced construction of its 30th data center, a $1 billion facility in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, designed to support the company’s expanding AI workloads.

The project will create over 1,000 construction jobs and more than 100 permanent positions, and includes a $15 million donation to a local energy fund and environmental restoration partnerships.

Meta described the project as key to advancing its AI infrastructure while supporting regional communities and sustainability goals.

House to vote to end historic US shutdown

The House of Representatives is poised to vote on a funding bill late Wednesday that could end the longest government shutdown in US history.

The measure, already approved by the Senate, extends funding for most agencies through January 30 and includes three full-year appropriations bills. Passage would send the bill to President Trump, who is expected to sign it immediately.

Speaker Mike Johnson expressed optimism, saying Republican leaders were “very confident” about the outcome.

If approved, the bill would reopen the federal government, restoring normal operations after weeks of disruption that have affected everything from data collection to air travel oversight.