1 Congress Approves Funding Most Of DHS, Ending Longest Shutdown In America History
The House voted unanimously yesterday to pass a Senate bill funding most of the Department of Homeland Security, bringing to an end the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history after President Trump quickly signed the legislation. The DHS shutdown began February 14th after Democrats refused to vote for continued funding as long as the bill included money for ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans will fund ICE and Border Patrol through the budget reconciliation process, which requires no Democratic votes in the Senate. Both chambers took the first step toward that reconciliation package this week by adopting a budget plan that instructs committees to begin drafting the immigration funding legislation. Because ICE and Border Patrol received tens of billions of dollars in last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, their operations largely continued uninterrupted during the shutdown.
2 President Nominating Dr. Nicole B. Saphier For US Surgeon General, Withdraws Previous Nomination
President Trump pulled his nomination of wellness influencer Casey Means for U.S. surgeon general yesterday and named Dr. Nicole Saphier as her replacement. Trump blamed Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy for blocking Means' confirmation after her February hearing. Saphier is a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, a Fox News contributor, and hosts a health podcast called "Wellness Unmasked." Trump praised her as a "STAR physician" and an "incredible communicator." Means' nomination had been championed by HHS Secretary RFK Jr. as part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda.
3 Five Injured In Tacoma, Washington School Stabbing Attack
Five people were hurt in a stabbing at Henry Foss High School in Tacoma, Washington, yesterday afternoon, and a student suspect was taken into custody at the scene. The attack was reported just after 1:30 p.m. local time; when police arrived, they found four wounded students and an injured campus security officer. All five victims, along with the suspect, were transported to area hospitals. Four of the student victims were initially in critical condition, but all six involved, including the suspect, were later reported to be in stable condition. No additional details about a motive or what preceded the altercation had been released as of last night.