Taxes & Budget
Coverage of the national budget and your taxes.
Senate approves partial Homeland Security funding bill, with no money for ICE or border patrol
The Senate early Friday passed a partial Department of Homeland Security funding bill, as Republicans caved to Democrats’ refusal to fund ICE and border patrol.
Senate approves funding for TSA and most of Homeland Security, but not immigration enforcement
The Senate early Friday morning approved Homeland Security funds to pay Transportation Security Administration agents and most other agencies, but not the immigration enforcement operations at the heart of the budget impasse that has jammed airports, disrupted travel and imposed financial hardship on workers.
GOP plan to reopen DHS falters with Trump ‘unhappy,’ Democrats still demanding big changes for ICE
A Republican-led plan to reopen the Department of Homeland Security without funding ICE’s detention and deportation operations is teetering as President Trump said he is “not happy” with it and Democrats said they cannot vote for it without additional changes.
White House deploys ICE agents to airports as DHS shutdown talks stall
President Trump is sending ICE agents to airports starting Monday to help relieve security lines despite sharp criticism from Democrats and the union representing Transportation Security Administration workers.
U.S. Capitol Police request first-ever $1 billion budget, citing increasing threats on lawmakers
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan is asking the federal government to support the department’s largest budget ever in light of a growing number of threats made against lawmakers.
Virginia Democrats ran on affordability — then passed a new payroll tax
The Virginia General Assembly wrapped up last weekend with an unpleasant surprise for voters hoping the 2025 election would make the state more affordable.
Trump seeks to close $1.6 trillion revenue gap with raft of new tariffs
The Trump administration this week stepped up its ambitious effort to replace about $1.6 trillion in lost tariff revenue that was eliminated by the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a range of the president’s import taxes.
‘Can’t find a dime’ for health care: Democrats link cost of Iran war to domestic priorities
Democrats spent much of last year attacking the GOP over spending cuts to health programs such as Obamacare and Medicaid. Now they’re tying that fight to the debate over the war in Iran, saying the conflict is burning through public money that could have been spent on domestic priorities.
Airports collect donations for payless TSA workers amid shutdown
Airports are soliciting donations for Transportation Security Administration personnel who are working without pay during the shutdown.
Federal layoffs drove 96% of 2025 job losses
Roughly 96% of all job losses in the D.C. region last year came from federal layoffs, the liberal Brookings Institution reported this month.
Senate passes bipartisan housing package, but House wants more changes
The Senate on Thursday passed bipartisan legislation designed to boost supply and lower costs of housing, but it appears unlikely to pass the House without changes.
Trump administration kicks off new process to try to replace tariffs struck down by Supreme Court
The Trump administration on Wednesday opened a new trade investigation into manufacturing in foreign countries — an effort that comes after the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s previous use of tariffs by declaring an economic emergency.
Sen. John Cornyn ready to blow up filibuster to pass SAVE America Act
For decades, Sen. John Cornyn was one of the upper chamber’s staunchest defenders of the legislative filibuster. Now, he is officially walking away from it.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro blames GOP for airport chaos amid the Democrats’ DHS shutdown
The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee is pinning the blame on Republicans for flight delays, hourslong jams at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints and the overall chaos at major airports across the U.S. — while her party blocks Department of Homeland Security funding.
Senate leaders resist Trump pressure on talking filibuster, SAVE America Act
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday that he hopes President Trump will change his mind about not signing bills into law until the SAVE America Act is passed, because he does not see a way to ensure passage.
Trump: No more bill signings until Senate passes voter ID law
President Trump said Sunday he won’t sign any more legislation until Congress passes the SAVE Act, the federal voter-ID bill he’s been pushing.
CBP says it’s struggling to issue tariff refunds fast, proposes a new system
U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it’s facing complications complying with a court order to quickly issue refunds for tariffs canceled by the Supreme Court.
First 100 hours of the U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran cost about $3.7 billion, experts say
The first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli campaign in Iran, cost an estimated $3.7 billion, according to experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Senate Democrats again block Homeland Security funding, ignore GOP warnings of Iran war needs
Senate Democrats Thursday blocked a Department of Homeland Security funding bill for the third time, despite their Republican colleagues’ concern that it is dangerous to keep the department shut down amid the growing conflict with Iran.
Trump’s pardons erased $2 billion in victim restitution, repayments to Treasury, Newsom says
President Trump’s pardons have canceled nearly $2 billion in repayments to the federal government and restitution to victims that would have been owed by criminals whose cases were wiped out by the clemency, according to a new analysis by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Blue states sue Trump administration over tariffs
Democratic attorneys general are pushing a lawsuit against the Trump administration in their newest shot at President Trump’s global tariffs.
Democrats urge businesses to pass tariff refund to consumers
Top Senate Democrats urged large businesses Thursday to pass along a portion of forthcoming tariff refunds to consumers who faced higher prices as a trickle-down effect of President Trump’s trade agenda.
Lawmakers await request from White House for more defense funds for Iran war
Congress is anticipating a request from the White House for supplemental funds for the war with Iran, but there are only guesses about the timing and the amount of the request.
House GOP pushes Democrats to reopen Homeland Security amid Iran war
House Republicans will give Democrats a second chance to vote for a Department of Homeland Security funding bill on Thursday, saying the war with Iran increases the urgency of ending the weeks-long shutdown of the department.
A property tax revolt spreads across states, but election-year cuts hit opposition
More and more states are examining plans to cut property taxes during what’s an election year for governors and legislators in most states. But some states’ tax-cutting zeal is hitting political resistance to slashing local government and public school funding.
