House Speaker Confident in Ending Government Shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) announced that he is confident he has secured enough Republican votes to end the partial government shutdown by Tuesday. The House is expected to vote on a funding package that separates funding for the Department of Homeland Security from broader legislation, amid ongoing debates over immigration enforcement policies. Johnson's efforts are complicated by Democratic demands for additional restrictions on ICE operations.
US Government Shutdown Enters Third Day Amid Stalemate
The partial US government shutdown has entered its third day, with House Democrats refusing to guarantee votes for a funding measure aimed at restoring government operations. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence that the standoff would be resolved by Tuesday, despite ongoing travel disruptions due to a winter storm. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats and Republicans have reached a preliminary agreement on five spending bills and a short-term stopgap measure for the Department of Homeland Security, although negotiations continue over the duration of the stopgap funding.
Warsh Faces Scrutiny Over Interest Rates in Fed Nomination
Kevin Warsh, nominated by President Donald Trump to lead the Federal Reserve, is expected to face scrutiny regarding his approach to interest rates and central bank independence. While Trump advocates for aggressive rate cuts to around 1 percent, Warsh, known for his previous emphasis on inflation control during his tenure as a Fed governor, may find such measures challenging amid current economic conditions. The Senate confirmation process for Warsh is anticipated to proceed smoothly, with analysts noting his experience and reputation in financial markets.
Trump sues IRS for $10 billion over tax leak
Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Treasury Department, claiming that a former IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn, illegally leaked his tax returns during his first term. The suit, submitted in federal court in Florida by Trump and his sons, alleges that the IRS failed to safeguard Trump's confidential tax information, which was disclosed to media outlets, and seeks compensation for reputational harm. The case follows the sentencing of Littlejohn to five years in prison for the unauthorized disclosure of tax returns, including Trump's.
Measles outbreak at Texas immigration center prompts quarantine
The Department of Homeland Security reported two detainees at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas were infected with measles, prompting a quarantine of those who may have been in contact with them. This outbreak contributes to a national surge in measles cases, with 588 confirmed in the U.S. so far this year, following a record 2,267 cases in 2025, the highest since 1991, according to the CDC.
