Obama Returns to DC, Packing Epic To-Do List

President Obama is back at the White House after an 11-day vacation in Hawaii, and he has his work cut out for him. USA Today runs down the most pressing issues awaiting the president in 2010.

• Terrorism: The attempted bombing of Flight 253 returned security to the top of the list. Some heads may roll after the near-catastrophe.

• Health care: The biggest issue before the holiday break is also likely to be the defining one of Obama's domestic legacy, and a bill could cross his desk this month.
• Afghanistan: The president's international legacy may well depend on his record here, starting with the troop surge that's already under way.

• Global warming: Copenhagen was a bit of a wash, and cap-and-trade probably won't get out of Congress alive, but the president has made clean energy and green jobs a big part of his plan.

To check out the whole list, click here. (More President Obama stories.)