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The House has approved a Senate-backed measure to restore funding to most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), bringing an end to a record-setting shutdown that stretched more than 10 weeks. The bill, passed by voice vote, now heads to President Trump, who is expected to sign it and officially reopen the agency — and in doing so, DHS agencies will resume normal operations, closing the chapter on the longest shutdown in the department’s history.

The House’s decision follows weeks of delay, even after the Senate unanimously passed the measure in March. Internal divisions among House Republicans had slowed progress, but momentum shifted after both chambers advanced a broader budget framework earlier this week. That plan directs committees to draft legislation allocating roughly $70 billion for immigration enforcement over the next several years.

The agreement reflects a two-track strategy worked out among House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and President Trump: immediately reopen DHS by passing the Senate bill, while advancing a longer-term funding solution for immigration enforcement agencies through a separate legislative path. Lawmakers moved quickly ahead of a scheduled congressional recess, also juggling urgency around renewing a key surveillance authority, FISA Section 702, which officials warn is critical to national security.

The funding lapse began on Feb. 14, disrupting operations across DHS and straining employees who went without reliable pay. While the legislation reopens much of the department through the end of the fiscal year, it notably excludes new funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol—two agencies at the center of an ongoing political fight over immigration policy.

Democrats had pushed to limit funding for those enforcement arms, citing concerns about immigration tactics, while Republicans opposed those conditions and instead plan to secure funding for ICE and Border Patrol through a separate budget reconciliation process. That approach would allow them to pass funding with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing Democratic support.

Pressure to act intensified as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that emergency funds—previously redirected to cover payroll—were close to running out, raising the risk of missed paychecks and operational disruptions, including at airports.

The shutdown’s impact was felt most heavily by agencies such as the Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday described the situation as “incredibly frustrating,” noting deep dissatisfaction among service members. Despite the funding gap, ICE and Border Patrol operations largely continued, supported by significant allocations approved in prior legislation.

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President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is nominating Dr. Nicole Saphier to serve as the next U.S. surgeon general, replacing his earlier choice, Dr. Casey Means, whose confirmation process has struggled to gain traction in the Senate.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Saphier as a “STAR physician who has spent her career guiding women facing breast cancer through their diagnosis and treatment while tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention, while at the same time working with men and women on all other forms of cancer diagnoses and treatments. She is also an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR, who makes complicated health issues more easily understood by all Americans. Dr. Nicole Saphier will do great things for our Country, and help, “MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN.”

Saphier is a radiologist and serves as director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Monmouth, New Jersey location. Her profile noted that her clinical work includes performing minimally invasive, image-guided procedures across multiple organs. In addition to her medical career, she has been a frequent contributor on Fox News, authored the book “Make America Healthy Again: How Bad Behavior and Big Government Caused a Trillion-Dollar Crisis,” and hosts the podcast “Wellness Unmasked.”

The nomination shift follows months of uncertainty surrounding Means, who appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in February. Means, who holds a medical degree but does not have an active license, faced scrutiny over past statements questioning established medical consensus, including remarks that “the science is never settled.” Additional attention was drawn to her past experimentation with psychedelic drugs and her broader views on public health issues.

During her hearing, Means also voiced general support for vaccines but avoided firmly endorsing certain immunizations, including the flu shot. When pressed by Sen. Bill Cassidy on whether she would recommend the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children, she emphasized personal choice and doctor-patient discussions rather than giving a direct endorsement.

Trump attributed the stalled nomination in part to resistance from Cassidy, stating that the senator “has stood in the way” of the process. Despite the setback, Trump indicated that Means will remain involved in health-related efforts moving forward.

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The Federal Reserve chose to keep interest rates unchanged on Wednesday, extending a pause that has now lasted three consecutive meetings in 2026. The decision comes as policymakers confront rising inflation tied to a surge in global energy prices following the Iran war, alongside uneven economic growth and hiring.

Officials voted to maintain the benchmark rate between 3.5% and 3.75%, though the decision exposed rare divisions within the central bank. One governor supported a modest rate cut, while several others objected to signaling any leaning toward future easing. The split marked the most internal dissent in decades, highlighting growing uncertainty about the path forward.

The Fed acknowledged that inflation remains elevated, driven in part by higher oil costs, and warned that ongoing geopolitical tensions are adding to economic “uncertainty.” At the same time, job growth has been inconsistent, leaving policymakers to balance the risk of slowing the economy against the danger of allowing inflation to accelerate further.

Meanwhile, the broader economic backdrop has grown more challenging. Since the outbreak of the Iran conflict, energy prices have surged, pushing U.S. gasoline prices sharply higher and fueling inflation. Consumer prices recently posted their fastest annual increase in nearly two years, with a particularly steep jump in fuel costs. The spike in energy expenses is beginning to weigh on household budgets, prompting some consumers to scale back spending—especially on big-ticket items. Because consumer spending drives the majority of U.S. economic activity, any pullback could dampen growth.

Economists warn that the Fed is navigating a difficult scenario often described as “stagflation,” where inflation remains high even as growth slows. Cutting rates could stimulate the economy but risk worsening inflation, while raising rates might curb price increases at the expense of further slowing activity. Many analysts believe rate cuts are unlikely this year unless economic conditions deteriorate significantly, particularly in the labor market. As one expert noted, “Although the Federal Reserve continues to focus on bringing inflation down to its long-term 2% target, current geopolitical tensions have complicated this task, as evidenced by a 0.9% increase in consumer prices last month.”

This meeting is widely expected to be the final one led by Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends May 15. His potential successor, Kevin Warsh, has cleared a key Senate committee vote and is awaiting confirmation by the full Senate. Powell has said he would remain in the role until a replacement is confirmed, and could continue serving on the Fed’s board through 2028, though his long-term plans remain unclear. The leadership transition has been complicated by a now-closed Justice Department investigation into Powell’s congressional testimony regarding building renovation costs. While the probe has been dropped, questions linger about whether the matter is fully resolved.

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The Supreme Court issued a major decision on Wednesday that significantly limits how race can be used when drawing electoral maps, striking down Louisiana’s congressional district plan and narrowing the scope of the Voting Rights Act in the process.

In a 6-3 ruling divided along ideological lines, the court determined that Louisiana’s revised map—created to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act—relied too heavily on race and therefore amounted to an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said that although rare exceptions might exist, this case did not meet the threshold to justify considering race in the redistricting process. Alito wrote: “Because the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district, no compelling interest justified the state’s use of race in creating SB8. That map is an unconstitutional gerrymander, and its use would violate the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights.”

The case stems from Louisiana’s post-2020 census redistricting. The state initially approved a map with only one majority-Black district out of six, despite Black residents making up roughly one-third of the population. A lower court found that plan violated the Voting Rights Act, prompting lawmakers to create a second majority-Black district in 2024. The Supreme Court, however, ruled that fix unconstitutional as well—this time because race played too central a role.

The ruling forces Louisiana to redraw its map yet again, just weeks before its May 16 primary, and could have ripple effects nationwide. It raises the bar for legal challenges under Section 2, making it harder for minority voters and advocacy groups to contest maps they believe weaken their electoral influence.

Alito emphasized that constitutional protections generally prohibit race-based decision-making, stating that such considerations should be nearly nonexistent in government actions. The majority also pointed to broader societal changes in the South and prior rulings that allow partisan gerrymandering, suggesting states could defend maps as politically motivated rather than racially driven. Concurring, Justice Clarence Thomas argued the decision should “largely put an end” to drawing districts based on race altogether.

However, the court’s liberal justices strongly disagreed. In a dissent, Justice Elena Kagan warned that the ruling weakens a key safeguard against voter discrimination, writing that it “renders Section 2 all but a dead letter.” She added, “Under the court’s new view of Section 2, a state can, without legal consequence, systematically dilute minority citizens’ voting power.”

Voting rights advocates fear the decision could reduce the number of majority-minority districts, potentially leading to fewer elected officials from underrepresented communities. Some experts also believe it may discourage future legal challenges, as proving intentional discrimination—a higher standard emphasized by the court—can be difficult. At the same time, Louisiana officials and the White House praised the outcome. State Attorney General Liz Murrill described the ruling as “seismic,” arguing it confirms that race can only be used in redistricting under very limited circumstances. A White House spokesperson called it “a complete and total victory for American voters,” adding: “The color of one’s skin should not dictate which congressional district you belong in.”

The decision marks the latest in a series of rulings that have chipped away at the Voting Rights Act, following earlier decisions in 2013 and 2021. While a 2023 case briefly reinforced the law, this latest ruling signals a shift toward a stricter interpretation of constitutional limits on race in policymaking.

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