House Takes No Action on Funding Bill to End Historic DHS Shutdown
During a brief pro forma session today, the US House of Representatives took no action on the funding bill intended to end the historic Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. The Senate had passed the legislation earlier today and sent it to the House, but no vote occurred.
The House’s next procedural meeting is scheduled for Monday, meaning the funding lapse affecting several DHS subagencies will persist until at least next week. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson may delay further action until lawmakers return from a two-week recess to ensure the measure, which his party rejected last week, can pass.
Trump Announces Executive Order to Pay All DHS Employees
Former President Donald Trump stated he would sign an executive order to pay all DHS employees. This follows his previous order to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers amid the record-breaking partial shutdown. Trump also praised congressional Republicans despite the House’s inaction on the Senate-passed funding bill for DHS subagencies affected by the ongoing partial shutdown.
House Speaker Mike Johnson could wait until lawmakers return from recess to advance legislation his party previously rejected. The funding bill withholds funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol. Instead, Republicans hope to finance federal immigration enforcement for three years through a reconciliation bill that bypasses the filibuster.
“Republicans are UNIFIED, and moving forward on a plan that will reload funding for our FANTASTIC Border Patrol and Immigration Enforcement Officers,” Trump wrote, while continuing to blame Democrats for the 48-day funding lapse.
Civil Rights Groups Sue Trump Administration Over Mail-In Voting Order
A coalition of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that an executive order limiting mail-in voting is unconstitutional.
The order, signed by Trump on Tuesday, directs the federal government to compile a list of eligible voters in each state and instructs the US Postal Service to transmit mail-in ballots only to individuals on that list.
“In effect, the Order seeks to interpose a federal screening regime between voters and the ballot box by empowering a federal mail carrier to withhold those voters’ ballots,” the lawsuit filed in federal court in Massachusetts states.
“The Constitution forbids this attempted usurpation of power. The President’s role is to execute the laws enacted by Congress - not to create new ones. Because the Executive Order exceeds the President’s constitutional and statutory authority and intrudes upon powers reserved to Congress and the States, it is unlawful and must be set aside.”
The Constitution grants states control over election administration and authorizes Congress to legislate for federal contests. It does not grant the president authority over elections.
“We understand this order to be an illegal and unconstitutional attempt by the President to seize control of processes that are basically run by the states,” said Davin Rosborough, deputy director of the Voting Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union and a lawyer representing the plaintiffs. “It’s a recipe for chaos and ultimately disenfranchisement.”
Meanwhile, coverage continues on the Middle East conflict, including reactions to Trump’s Wednesday address on the ongoing war with Iran. During his televised speech, Trump reiterated that the military campaign against Iran would take another “two to three weeks.” He also emphasized that allies should assist the US in securing and reopening the Strait of Hormuz amid fluctuating oil prices.
Senate Sends Bill to End Record-Breaking DHS Shutdown to House
The Senate has sent a bill to the House aimed at ending the record-breaking 48-day DHS shutdown. The measure would fund affected subagencies such as the TSA, US Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Notably, the bill excludes funding for ICE and part of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The House had previously rejected this legislation last week. Now, lawmakers hope to pass it and subsequently advance a separate budget bill to fund immigration enforcement through a maneuver requiring only a simple Senate majority.
However, Congress is currently in recess, so House Speaker Mike Johnson must call the chamber back to Washington for a full vote. During procedural sessions held in the break, a single dissenting vote could defeat the bill.
Donald Trump is in Washington today but has no public events or meetings scheduled, according to the White House. At 2 p.m. ET, he is set to sign executive orders; updates will be provided as available.
French President Emmanuel Macron criticized Trump for undermining NATO by creating “daily doubt about his commitment” to the alliance during a state visit to Seoul. Macron stated,
“If you create daily doubt about your commitment, you hollow it out.”He added there is “too much talk... going off in all directions.”
The US has lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, marking a step toward normalizing relations after US forces detained her predecessor Nicolás Maduro and his wife. The couple face drug trafficking charges in New York and have pleaded not guilty.
The US Treasury Department announced the sanction lift on Rodríguez, allowing her to work more freely with US companies and investors. Rodríguez expressed hope for improved US-Venezuelan relations in a statement on her Telegram channel:
“We value President Donald Trump’s decision as a step toward normalising and strengthening relations between our countries. We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of current sanctions against our country, enabling us to build and guarantee an effective bilateral cooperation agenda for the benefit of our people.”
Rodríguez and her brother Jorge Rodríguez were sanctioned during Trump’s first term for allegedly undermining Venezuelan democracy.
Trump Consults Advisers on Replacing Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard
Donald Trump has privately consulted cabinet officials about potentially replacing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. He expressed frustration that she shielded a former deputy who challenged his rationale for war with Iran, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
It remains unclear whether Trump will dismiss Gabbard. No clear successor has emerged, and advisers warned that creating a high-profile vacancy prematurely could cause political distractions.
Trump’s consultations indicate serious consideration of a personnel change, as he typically polls advisers before making such decisions. The sources spoke anonymously about private conversations.
Trump’s doubts followed Gabbard’s testimony at a worldwide threats hearing on Capitol Hill last month, where she declined to condemn Joe Kent, who argued that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the US.
Kent’s departure and criticism of the war had already angered Trump, but he was particularly frustrated by Gabbard’s apparent defense of Kent and reluctance to support the administration’s position on attacking Iran.
When asked on Sunday about his confidence in Gabbard’s leadership, Trump gave a mixed response:
“Yeah, sure. I mean, she’s a little bit different in her thought process than me, but that doesn’t make somebody not available to serve.”
Republican DHS Funding Plan Faces First Test Vote
The Senate is expected to attempt quick passage of a measure later today to fund most of DHS, although it is uncertain when the House will follow to largely end the longest partial government shutdown in US history.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a “two-step process” plan yesterday to fully fund DHS. This agreement aligns their efforts after separate plans left Congress without a resolution last week.
The bipartisan Senate plan funds most of DHS except for ICE and US Border Patrol. Republicans plan to fund those agencies separately through party-line legislation, which could take months.
Neither outcome is guaranteed, and the strategy may face opposition within the GOP despite President Trump’s support.
Economic Impact of Trump’s Policies and ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs
Before declaring “liberation day” on April 2, 2025, and imposing import tariffs on nearly every US trading partner, Trump spent nearly three months causing disruption in Washington.
The wholesale reduction of government jobs under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and defunding of US aid agencies signaled his intent to challenge institutions he deemed wasteful.
Investors quickly recognized chaos as a key tool in Trump’s approach. Following his inauguration, the dollar steadily declined against other currencies as investors sold US assets in favor of Europe, Asia, and South America.
“If you think that discouraging investors from buying assets in the US is a victory, then you don’t believe in a growing economy,” said Dario Perkins, head of global research at consultancy TS Lombard. “If it was possible for Trump to have spent the last 14 months on the golf course, we would be in a better place.”
Russ Mould, investment director at British stockbroker AJ Bell, commented:
“America is still home to the world’s largest economy and its reserve currency, as well as the globe’s largest equity and bond markets, but investors continue to reassess their exposure one year on from liberation day.”
The economy has either stagnated or declined depending on the metric. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows US companies, expected to benefit from Trump’s tariff war, ceased hiring almost immediately after liberation day was announced.
Revisions to February 2025 data reduced payroll employment by 403,000 jobs, resulting in a net gain of 50,000 jobs last year. This modest increase contrasts with the 163 million people employed in the US.
Commission to Vote on Trump’s $400M White House Ballroom Project After Injunction
The National Capital Planning Commission will meet this afternoon to decide on Donald Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project, following a federal judge’s injunction halting construction earlier this week.
Although the injunction did not take immediate effect, Judge Richard Leon’s order prompted Trump to claim on Truth Social that his administration did not require “express authorization from Congress” to proceed. The government is appealing the decision.
Republicans have largely refrained from commenting on the project. One exception is Lexi Hamel, spokesperson for Representative Mike Simpson, who stated on Wednesday that Simpson “believes the ruling is stupid” and noted that “nobody raised hell when Roosevelt or Truman renovated the White House (at taxpayer expense).”
The federal panel postponed a vote on the project last month after receiving thousands of negative public comments. Before the meeting, the commission released a summary of public comments, noting over 35,000 submissions, most opposing Trump’s plan to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom where the East Wing once stood and condemning the demolition of the East Wing.
The Commission of Fine Arts, also reviewing the plans and where Trump has installed loyalists, voted to delay a decision last month.
Historic preservation groups have sued to halt the project. In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit, arguing the administration violated laws by demolishing parts of the White House without review.
Additional Political and Legal Developments
House Republicans announced plans to pass the Senate-advanced bill to end the DHS shutdown after previously rejecting it. Democrats celebrated, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stating,
“House Republicans caved” after previously “[derailing] a bipartisan agreement, making American families pay the price for their dysfunction.”
NASA’s lunar rocket successfully launched, and the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years received widespread praise across the US.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s position is reportedly at risk due to dissatisfaction with her performance and controversy surrounding Epstein files, according to The New York Times.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation requiring documented proof of citizenship to register to vote and initiated a process to unenroll voters lacking such documentation.
Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism toward the Trump administration’s argument to restrict birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants and temporary foreign nationals. Trump attended the hearing, marking a rare instance of a sitting president present at Supreme Court arguments.
