Senate again fails to pass DHS funding bill as shutdown nears a month
The Senate once more failed to pass a funding bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as the partial government shutdown approaches its one-month mark.
In a 51-46 vote, largely divided along party lines, senators remain deadlocked over enhanced restrictions on federal immigration enforcement.
Only one Democrat, Senator John Fetterman, broke ranks to support the appropriations bill that would fund DHS through September.
This marks the fourth occasion this year that the Senate has not reached the 60-vote threshold required to pass a DHS funding bill.
US Navy could escort vessels in Strait of Hormuz with international coalition, Bessent says
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told that the US Navy, potentially alongside an international coalition, will escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz when militarily feasible.
"My belief, that as soon as it is militarily possible, the US Navy, perhaps with an international coalition, will be escorting vessels through."
Bessent explained that the escort plan would proceed once the US has "complete control of the skies and ... [Iran’s] rebuilding capabilities for the missiles completely degraded."
"There are, in fact, tankers coming through now, Iranian tankers, I believe some Chinese flag tankers have come through. So we know that they have not mined the straits."
Earlier, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC that the Navy cannot currently escort ships through the strait but indicated it is "quite likely" that could occur by the end of the month.
US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions have disrupted shipping through this critical waterway, causing global energy prices to surge.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized reports that the FBI warned California police departments of a potential Iranian drone retaliation on the US west coast following US attacks.
The alert, distributed at the end of February, was based on a single unverified tip.
"They wrote this based on one email that was sent to local law enforcement in California about a single, unverified tip," Leavitt said. "TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did."
Here's a recap of the day so far
The Senate again failed to pass a funding bill to reopen DHS amid a nearly month-long partial shutdown. The 51-46 vote largely followed party lines, with lawmakers deadlocked over immigration enforcement provisions.
However, the Senate passed a landmark housing bill aimed at increasing housing supply and reducing costs by a significant bipartisan margin. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, authored by Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and Republican Senator Tim Scott, passed with 89 votes. Nine Republicans and one Democrat opposed it.
Former President Donald Trump commented on rising oil prices, suggesting they could ultimately benefit Americans despite increased fuel costs.
"The United States is the largest Oil Producer in the World, by far, so when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money," Trump wrote, despite campaigning on lowering costs.
US defense officials informed senators on the Armed Services Committee that the war on Iran has cost over $11.3 billion in the first six days, according to multiple reports. The New York Times first reported this figure, citing sources familiar with a closed-door briefing.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright reiterated to CNBC that the Navy cannot currently escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz but indicated it is "quite likely" this could occur by month’s end. Oil prices briefly rose nearly 10% above $100 per barrel before falling to $98 amid supply disruption concerns.
Local and national media reported a shooting incident at Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, a Detroit suburb. A male suspect was killed, and no casualties were reported.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard stated that security guards at the synagogue engaged the suspect with gunfire as he approached the building.
"We’re not getting any active stimulus at the moment," Bouchard said, indicating the emergency had ended.
"At least one individual came to the temple, security saw him, engaged him in gunfire at the scene," he added.
Bouchard could not confirm who fired the shots but noted no one was in custody and no injuries were reported except possibly the shooter. All individuals were evacuated from a school within the synagogue complex.
Iranian security chief Ali Larijani declared that Iran would continue fighting until the US regrets its "grave miscalculation" of initiating war against the Islamic Republic.
"Trump says he is looking for a speedy victory. While starting a war is easy, it cannot be won with a few tweets. We will not relent until making you sorry for this grave miscalculation," Larijani said.
Congresswoman Haley Stevens, representing West Bloomfield, said she was receiving real-time reports about the synagogue shooting.
"To everyone in Michigan’s 11th district, continue to follow the guidance of local law enforcement. To the Jewish American community in Michigan and beyond, we stand with you," Stevens stated on social media.
FBI responding to reports of active shooter at Michigan synagogue
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that FBI personnel are on the scene with partners in Michigan following reports of a vehicle ramming into a synagogue and subsequent gunfire in a Detroit suburb.
The incident occurred at Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, according to local law enforcement.
Further details will be provided as they become available.
Microsoft supports Anthropic’s legal challenge against Pentagon
Microsoft has filed a court brief supporting AI company Anthropic’s legal challenge against the Pentagon’s designation that bars it from government contracts.
In a filing submitted to a federal court in California this week, Microsoft argued for a temporary restraining order to prevent disruption to suppliers relying on Anthropic’s technology. Google, Amazon, Apple, and OpenAI have also joined the brief.
Microsoft stated:
"The Department of War needs reliable access to the country’s best technology. And everyone wants to ensure AI is not used for mass domestic surveillance or to start a war without human control. The government, the entire tech sector, and the American public need a path to achieve all these goals together."
Microsoft is a major Pentagon tech partner, holding a share of the military’s Joe Biden-era contract alongside Amazon, Google, and Oracle, as well as other multi-billion-dollar deals.
The legal challenge follows two lawsuits filed by Anthropic in federal courts in California and Washington DC, contesting the Pentagon’s designation of it as a supply-chain risk, a label never before applied to a US company.
Trump’s voter ID bill to be brought to Senate floor next week
Senator John Thune announced he will bring former President Donald Trump’s voter ID bill, the SAVE America Act, to the Senate floor next week, though it is unlikely to pass the 60-vote threshold.
Trump has made the bill, which requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, his "number one priority," urging Thune to lead efforts to secure enough votes.
"I think we can all agree that if you have to show photo ID and prove where you live to get a library card, it’s not too much to ask voters to show ID to vote in federal elections," Thune said on the Senate floor.
The bill serves as a platform for Trump to reiterate unfounded claims about undocumented immigrants voting in federal elections. It also includes provisions not in the original legislation, such as bans on mail voting, gender-affirming surgeries for minors, and transgender women participating in women’s sports.
Some Republicans oppose certain provisions. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, for example, does not support banning mail voting.
Conservative supporters have pushed for a "talking" filibuster to force Democrats to hold the floor to block the bill, but Thune has rejected this strategy.
"We don’t have the votes, either to proceed [to] a talking filibuster nor to sustain one if we got one," Thune said. "That’s just a function of math. There isn’t anything I can do about that."
Senate overwhelmingly passes landmark housing bill
The Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a major bipartisan bill aimed at increasing housing supply and reducing costs, by an 89-10 vote.
Authored by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Tim Scott (R), the bill includes incentives for new home construction, programs to convert abandoned buildings into housing, restrictions on large institutional investors buying single-family homes, grants for home renovations, and provisions on rent control.
The bill now moves to the House, where its future is uncertain. Some Republicans oppose a temporary ban on the Federal Reserve issuing a digital currency, favoring a permanent ban. Other provisions, including rent control, have been criticized by some lawmakers as "communist."
Separately, the Department of Homeland Security restored the Global Entry international travel program on March 11 at 5:00 AM ET after it was halted during the partial shutdown.
A DHS spokesperson said:
"As DHS continually evaluates measures it can take amidst the Democrats’ continued shutdown of the department, DHS will be reactivating Global Entry on March 11th at 5:00 AM ET. We are working hard to alleviate the disruptions to travelers caused by the Democrats’ shutdown."
The department’s funding lapsed on February 14 due to disagreements over immigration enforcement oversight.
Global Entry is primarily funded by a $120 fee paid by users every five years rather than direct federal appropriations.
Recently, travelers at US airports experienced long security lines due to a shortage of TSA agents affecting checkpoint operations while Global Entry was suspended.
Eswatini receives four more third-country deportees from US, government says
Eswatini announced it received four additional third-country deportees from the United States, bringing the total to at least 19 expelled under the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy.
According to a government statement shared on X, two of the latest deportees are from Somalia, one from Sudan, and one from Tanzania. Earlier deportees arriving in July included nationals from Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, and Yemen.
Lawyer Alma David told that a Cambodian man, Pheap Rom, is scheduled for repatriation, the second after another man was sent back last year.
The Trump administration has financially supported Eswatini in connection with these deportations.
The government statement reads:
"In line with this agreement ... the nation has received another cohort of four third-country nationals from the United States."
Eswatini is among several African countries that have made secretive agreements with the Trump administration to accept third-country deportees from the US, including Ghana, Rwanda, and others.
Last month, Eswatini’s high court dismissed a legal challenge filed by local human rights lawyers against the deportations, though an appeal is underway.
Despite having served sentences for crimes committed in the US, many deportees remain imprisoned in Eswatini. The government stated that "intensive engagements with the respective countries of origin ... are ongoing."
Trump comments on Iran’s football team participation in 2026 World Cup
Donald Trump stated that Iran’s football team is "welcome" to participate in the 2026 World Cup hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, but added a caution regarding their safety.
"I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."
This follows Iran’s Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali’s announcement that the team would not participate due to US-Israeli strikes on Iran that have resulted in the deaths of the supreme leader and thousands of civilians.
"Given the malicious actions they have carried out against Iran, they have forced two wars on us over eight or nine months and have killed and martyred thousands of our people. Therefore, we certainly cannot have such a presence," Donyamali said.
Clyburn says he will run for re-election at 85, poised to be one of the oldest members of Congress
Jim Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat first elected to Congress in 1992, announced he will seek re-election for his House seat.
At 85, Clyburn would become the third oldest member of Congress if re-elected. He has held senior Democratic leadership roles, including Majority Whip under former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi announced last year she will retire at the end of this term, joining other senior Democrats stepping down after the November midterms.
Senate Democrats send letter to Hegseth for more information on bombing of Iran girls' school
Nearly all Senate Democrats and two independents caucusing with them sent a letter to Pete Hegseth requesting further information regarding the bombing of an Iranian girls’ school that killed at least 175 people.
All but one Democrat, Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, signed the letter following a New York Times report indicating a preliminary investigation attributes the strike near a naval base in Minab to the US.
The Times cited unnamed officials stating a Tomahawk missile strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh primary school was a "targeting mistake" by the US military.
The letter demands that the findings be released publicly as soon as possible along with accountability measures.
It includes questions for the Defense Secretary about whether the US conducted or supported the strikes and whether the Pentagon is adhering to rules of engagement to prevent potential war crimes.
