Powerball Reset to $45M as DOJ Cracks Down on DEI

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Powerball jackpot has reset to an estimated 45 million dollars following the latest drawing in which no ticket matched all six winning numbers, reopening the race for lottery players nationwide just days after one of the biggest prizes in U.S. history was claimed. The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Wednesday, with a cash option valued at just over 20 million dollars, as ticket sales resume across 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The reset comes after a historic moment on December 24, when a single ticket sold in Arkansas won the massive 1.817 billion dollar Powerball jackpot, the second-largest lottery prize ever recorded. The winner now faces the choice between the full annuity paid over 30 years or a lump-sum cash payout of approximately 834.9 million dollars before taxes. With that prize officially claimed, the jackpot returned to its base level and has since climbed to the current amount after consecutive draws without a winner.

While lottery players focus on their next chance at a windfall, a separate and significant development is unfolding in Washington. The U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, has intensified its crackdown on corporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, commonly known as DEI, programs. Federal prosecutors are reportedly using the False Claims Act, a law traditionally aimed at combating fraud involving government funds, to investigate whether certain DEI policies violate civil rights laws while companies continue to receive federal contracts.

Major corporations, including firms in the technology, telecommunications, defense and automotive sectors, have reportedly been asked to provide internal documents related to hiring practices, training programs and workplace policies. The move follows earlier executive actions ordering the elimination of DEI programs within federal agencies and urging contractors to reassess similar initiatives.

Legal experts say the use of the False Claims Act in this context is largely unprecedented and could face challenges in court, potentially reshaping how employment practices are regulated in the private sector. Companies named in reports have largely declined public comment, citing ongoing reviews.

As Americans look ahead to the next Powerball drawing, the contrasting headlines of renewed jackpot hopes and an aggressive federal policy shift highlight a moment where everyday dreams and major political battles are unfolding side by side.

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