The Senate is poised to vote on a $1.6 trillion funding package, but a potential government shutdown looms as Democrats threaten to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to multiple news sources including NPR News. The dispute centers on concerns regarding the conduct of immigration agents, potentially leading to a partial government shutdown.
Democrats are pushing for reforms within the DHS, including tighter cooperation with local law enforcement and the implementation of a uniform code of conduct, NPR News reported. Republicans, however, oppose splitting the funding package, creating a stalemate in Congress.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has nominated a federal prosecutor, Colin McDonald, to the newly created role of Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement, Time reported. This move comes after the Trump Administration urged the Justice Department to investigate fraud in Democrat-led states. McDonald's appointment, if confirmed by the Senate, would place him in charge of a new DOJ unit with nationwide jurisdiction over fraud issues, supervised directly by the White House, according to Time. Vice President J.D. Vance's communications director, William Martin, embraced the nickname "Fraud Czar" for McDonald's role on X. This direct White House supervision has raised concerns about the potential politicization of law enforcement investigations, Time noted.
The potential shutdown also coincides with growing resistance to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota, Time reported. Multiple news sources highlight strong community resistance following recent deaths, with residents organizing patrols, protests, and economic shutdowns. This widespread solidarity, involving neighbors, legal observers, students, elders, and interfaith networks, serves as a model for other communities facing similar federal actions, according to Time.
The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has faced criticism, even from some Republicans, with some calling for her resignation, Vox reported. Noem has been dubbed "ICE Barbie" by some critics, according to Vox.
In other news, tax law expert Brian Galle, an architect of California's wealth tax proposal, believes the current system is failing due to domination by a few families, Fortune reported. Galle, who identifies as a capitalist, details his views in his forthcoming book, "How to Tax the Ultrarich," according to Fortune and the Roosevelt Institute. Galle, who has worked on wealth tax legislation with figures like Elizabeth Warren, believes the current California bill has a good chance of passing, drawing scrutiny from wealthy Californians, Fortune reported.
The Senate vote on the funding package and McDonald's confirmation hearing are the next steps to watch in these developing situations.
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