DHS Shutdown Extends Amid Immigration Impasse
The US Senate has failed to pass a funding bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), extending a partial shutdown that has lasted nearly a month. The bill, which aimed to fund DHS through September, failed by a vote of 51-46, primarily along party lines.
The ongoing impasse is due to an unresolved conflict over federal immigration enforcement guardrails. This marks the fourth time the Senate has been unable to clear the 60-vote threshold required for DHS funding this year.
Bipartisan Housing Bill Sails Through Senate
In a rare bipartisan move, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a landmark housing bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, with 89 votes. Co-authored by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Tim Scott, the legislation seeks to boost housing supply and lower costs through various incentives.
These incentives include funding for new home construction, programs to convert abandoned buildings into housing, prohibitions on large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, and grants for home overhauls. The bill now faces an uncertain path in the House of Representatives.
National Security Updates
Iran Threats & War Costs
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized an ABC News report that claimed the FBI warned California police departments about potential Iranian drone retaliation on the West Coast.
Leavitt stated that "no such threat from Iran to our homeland exists" and clarified that the report was based on a single, unverified tip.
Further reports from US defense officials indicated that the cost of the war on Iran exceeded $11.3 billion within the first six days.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright suggested that the Navy is likely to begin escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz by the end of the month, amid renewed concerns about oil supply disruptions that had pushed prices above $100 a barrel.
Former President Donald Trump commented on Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup, stating they are "welcome" but questioned its "appropriateness" for their safety. This contrasts with a prior statement from Iran's sports minister declining participation due to US actions.
Synagogue Shooting in Michigan
Domestically, a male suspect was killed in a shooting incident at Temple Israel, a synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.
Security guards at the synagogue engaged the suspect as he approached the building, with no other casualties reported. The FBI is responding to the scene.
Further Political & Domestic News
Voting Rights and Controversial Proposals
In other political developments, Senator John Thune announced plans to bring Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, to the Senate floor next week.
The bill is not expected to clear the 60-vote threshold required for passage.
Trump has also advocated for additional measures, including a ban on mail voting and certain gender-affirming surgeries for minors, which face opposition even among some Republicans.
Global Entry Reactivated & Deportee Agreement
The international travel program Global Entry was reactivated after being halted during the DHS shutdown, a service primarily funded by user fees.
Additionally, Eswatini announced it received four more third-country deportees from the United States, part of a $5.1 million agreement with the Trump administration to accept 160 deportees.
Clyburn Seeks Re-election
Meanwhile, Representative Jim Clyburn, an 85-year-old Democrat from South Carolina, confirmed he would seek re-election, potentially making him one of the oldest members of Congress.