Month: May 2026

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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