Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
February 12, 2026

The Senate failed to advance a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday, paving the way for another partial government shutdown without a last-minute breakthrough.  In a 52 to 47 vote, all but one Democrat opposed moving forward with the bill, which would fund DHS through September. The motion needed 60 votes…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
February 11, 2026

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) says Senate Democrats will block another short-term funding resolution to keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operating past Friday because Republicans haven’t done enough to meet their demands to overhaul Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  With only three days from a DHS shutdown left, Democrats will not…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
February 2, 2026

The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Friday to pass a major funding package consisting of five regular appropriations bills and a two-week stopgap measure for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  The 71-29 vote caps a week of Senate drama after a Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, sparking a…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
January 29, 2026

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) and President Donald J. Trump are moving toward a deal to separate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding from five other House-passed appropriations bills in hopes of avoiding a partial government shutdown this weekend.  No agreement has been reached yet but the discussions are ongoing and moving in…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
January 28, 2026

Senate Republicans and Democrats will head into separate lunches Wednesday for their first in-person conference meetings on how to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of the week with partisan divisions over the Homeland Security bill reaching the brink amid a weather-shortened week.  Democrats expect to come out of lunch with a firmer…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
January 27, 2026

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) announced Monday that Senate Democrats are prepared to speed up passage of five government funding bills — but not funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — to avoid a large swath of the government shutting down at the end of the week.  Senate Majority Leader John…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
January 26, 2026

Chances for a partial shutdown of the U.S. government by the end of this week grew exponentially on Sunday due to outrage over federal immigration agents fatally shooting Alex Pretti in Minnesota, the second such horrific incident this month.  A growing crowd of Democratic senators warned that they will not vote for a massive $1.2…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
January 22, 2026

The House Rules Committee voted Thursday morning to set up floor action on the four bills top appropriators released this week following a bipartisan, bicameral breakthrough on funding for the vast majority of the federal government, including the Pentagon and the largest domestic agencies.  The House will not vote on amendments to the DHS funding…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
January 21, 2026

Congressional leaders released the final four measures to fund the government Tuesday, as lawmakers race to avoid yet another government shutdown at the end of the month.  Congress has until January 30th to fund the remaining government agencies and programs, after approving a three-bill funding package as part of the effort to end the longest…

Read More

Adam S. Olsen- Washington, D.C.
January 15, 2026

Congress is moving along this month on efforts to fund the federal government and prevent another January 30th shutdown, but the toughest fights are yet to come.  Entering the week, the House had already passed six of the 12 annual appropriations bills for fiscal 2026, three are now already law, and Wednesday the chamber added…

Read More