Congressional Developments
The Senate unanimously passed a bill to fund all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate bill, indicating the House would vote on a separate bill to fund all DHS agencies for 60 days. This House bill is considered unlikely to pass the Senate.
Discussions suggest President Trump may issue an executive order to ensure payment for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents if the funding stalemate continues. The Senate's resolution on DHS funding was prompted by public impact from extended airport lines due to unpaid TSA agents and senators' desire to begin their recess.
Democratic efforts to secure reforms for ICE and Border Patrol, following Minnesota shootings, were unsuccessful despite extended negotiations with the White House. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer maintained party unity, preventing endorsement of the enforcement agencies without reforms.
Senate Republicans stated they successfully blocked Democratic reform efforts. Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated that Republicans intend to fund ICE and Border Patrol through a reconciliation bill, which requires only a simple majority vote. Senator Eric Schmitt suggested such a reconciliation bill would "supercharge deportations."
The reconciliation process is complex, and linking immigration enforcement funding with the SAVE America Act could be challenging to implement and prone to broadening with other party demands.
International Affairs
President Trump declared the Iran war "over" and "won," asserting that Iran was "begging for a deal" after various military actions.
Simultaneously, thousands of U.S. Marines and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division are being deployed to the region. The specific objectives for these ground troops remain unclear to both Congress and the public.
Potential missions include securing strategic locations like Kharg Island or sites in the Strait of Hormuz, or seizing Iran's enriched uranium stocks.
House Ethics Investigation
The House Ethics Committee conducted a public hearing concerning 27 ethics violations against Florida Democratic Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
Allegations include the diversion of a $5 million FEMA overpayment, received by her company, to her congressional campaign through the use of straw donors. Cherfilus-McCormick also faces a federal indictment related to these allegations. The committee found her guilty on 25 of the 27 counts.
The committee is scheduled to reconvene after recess to recommend a sanction to the full House, which could lead to an expulsion vote or her resignation.
Special Election Results
Democrat Emily Gregory secured a victory in a Florida state House special election, flipping a seat previously held by a Republican who won by a 19-point margin in 2024.
The district encompasses Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. Gregory expressed openness to communicating with Trump as his new state representative.
This outcome precedes a special session of the Florida Legislature aimed at redrawing congressional maps. Florida Republicans are reportedly reconsidering their gerrymandering strategy due to concerns that an overly ambitious plan could weaken the party's position in the midterms and jeopardize incumbent seats.
Treasury Department Update
Brandon Beach, the current Treasurer of the United States, will no longer have his signature featured on U.S. paper currency. He was appointed following his efforts related to the 2020 election in Georgia.
President Donald Trump is set to become the first sitting president to have his signature appear on the dollar.
Beach publicly affirmed that printing Trump's signature on the currency was "appropriate" and "well deserved," attributing it to Trump's role as "architect of America’s Golden Age economic revival."