DHS Funding Risk Grows as Democrats Hold Immigration 'Guardrails'; Trump Launches TrumpRx

Lawmakers from both parties warn the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) could run out of funding at the end of next week as Democratic demands on immigration enforcement stall negotiations.

DHS Funding Standoff

Congress had approved a short-term stopgap that funds DHS through Feb. 13 to give negotiators time to reach a longer-term deal for the remainder of the fiscal year. With roughly a week left before that temporary funding expires, leaders on Capitol Hill say a durable agreement remains elusive.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) outlined 10 "guardrails" Democrats say must be included for them to support a DHS funding bill. The package would place new limits on immigration enforcement — including bans on "indiscriminate arrests," requirements that agents identify themselves, restrictions on entering private property without a judicial warrant and limits on enforcement near "sensitive locations" such as schools, medical facilities and places of worship.

Republican negotiators have dismissed the guardrails as unrealistic. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told colleagues he does not expect a deal by next week and accused Democrats of prioritizing political theater over compromise. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), the lead Republican negotiator, said Democrats have not negotiated in good faith.

Activist Analilia Mejia and former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) face off in special election for a House seat. (Joy Asico/AP Images for Center for Popular Democracy Action)

Still, Democrats appear united. One Democratic senator speaking on background told reporters the eight Senate Democrats who earlier voted to end a full government shutdown will not break with their colleagues this time: "There is nobody who’s going to ride to their rescue."

A lapse in DHS funding could affect far more than immigration enforcement. Agencies under DHS — including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard — could see curtailed operations, raising concerns among lawmakers and the public.

Soybeans are harvested on the Warpup Farm in Warren, Ind., Sept. 17, 2025. (Michael Conroy, Associated Press file)

House Democratic leadership is exploring alternatives. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said he expects House Democrats to introduce a bill that would fund DHS operations but exclude funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "We’re in a position of no funding until such time as we reach a deal where ICE and Border Patrol are acting in a constitutional and legal way," Hoyer said, while stressing that some DHS functions "need to be funded." Senate Democrats, however, say they will not accept another short-term extension beyond next Friday, complicating that approach.

Trump Administration Launches TrumpRx

On Thursday night the administration unveiled TrumpRx, a direct-to-consumer website that aims to display prescription drugs at the lowest available prices by matching them to "most favored nation" (MFN) prices. Officials say the government will not distribute medications but will provide a forum to compare prices; the platform will not accept insurance and is intended to bypass intermediaries.

Vice President Vance attends a preliminary round match of women’s ice hockey between United States and Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 5, 2026. (Petr David Josek, Associated Press)

Former White House COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha called the initiative potentially very helpful for people without health insurance but said its impact on insured patients is uncertain. Several major drugmakers — including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk — are listed among companies that have entered MFN pricing agreements with the administration. Observers and industry outlets have questioned how effective the program will be and warned of potential sales impacts for manufacturers.

Close New Jersey Primary Could Produce Progressive Upset

A special Democratic primary in New Jersey has turned into a nail-biter. Progressive activist Analilia Mejia led former Rep. Tom Malinowski by fewer than 500 votes (about 0.8 percentage points) in the latest count for the seat vacated by Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.). Decision Desk HQ briefly called the race for Malinowski before retracting that projection as Mejia surged into a narrow lead. Outstanding ballots remain to be counted; if Mejia holds her lead, it would be a notable upset.

A skier warms up before an alpine ski men’s downhill official training at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Feb. 5, 2026, in Bormio, Italy. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Associated Press)

Mejia — who served as political director for Sen. Bernie Sanders’s 2020 presidential campaign — has secured left-leaning endorsements, including from Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). The 11-candidate primary included other prominent contenders such as former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill; no candidate had surpassed 30 percent in the latest tabulation.

If Mejia prevails, attention will shift to the role of super PAC spending by groups tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). United Democracy Project ran multimillion-dollar ads attacking Malinowski late in the race — ads that emphasized issues such as past stock trading rather than directly addressing his positions on Israel.

Other Key Developments

• Funds Rescinded: The White House said it is rescinding $1.5 billion in health and transportation funds previously designated for Colorado, Illinois, California and Minnesota, blaming "waste and mismanagement."
• Guthrie Ransom Note: Authorities confirmed receipt of a ransom letter tied to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie. Officials say the note contained no proof of life; the FBI is offering a $50,000 reward and confirmed blood at the scene matched Nancy Guthrie’s DNA.
• Federal Workforce Rule Finalized: The administration finalized a rule making it easier to remove roughly 50,000 federal employees who focus on policy by rolling back some civil service and whistleblower protections. Unions have vowed legal challenges.
• Uber Verdict: A Phoenix jury ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to Jaylynn Dean in a 2023 sexual assault case, rejecting the company's argument that drivers are independent contractors. The verdict could affect more than 3,000 pending suits alleging systemic safety failures.
• Sen. Slotkin Declines Interview: Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) declined a DOJ request for an interview in an investigation tied to a video advising service members they may refuse unlawful orders, calling the probe intimidation.
• Farming Concerns: Bipartisan industry leaders warned Congress that agriculture and rural communities face severe strain from tariffs, rising production costs and weak crop prices; the administration announced a $12 billion farm aid package in December.
• Olympics Delegation: Vice President Vance led the U.S. delegation to the Winter Olympics in Milan, attending the U.S. women’s hockey opener and praising the Games as a unifying national event.

This edition highlights ongoing political conflict over immigration and DHS funding, the rollout of a government-backed drug-pricing platform, and several high-profile legal and public-safety developments. Officials from multiple agencies and both parties say a rapid resolution is needed to avoid disruptions to critical services.