White House Revises DHS Funding Offer as Shutdown Negotiations Continue

• A March 26 SCOTUSblog outside opinion by Neil Weare examines a Supreme Court ruling that permitted a president to redefine birthright citizenship, highlighting judicial deference in constitutional matters. • The piece critiques the court's approach to executive overreach on a core 14th Amendment right, drawing parallels to historical citizenship disputes. • It argues the decision sets a precedent for future policy changes via executive action without robust judicial checks.

• The US Treasury Department is preparing to place President Donald Trump's signature on every new US paper bill, marking the first time for a sitting president, according to an anonymous Treasury official speaking to the Associated Press on Thursday. • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's signature will also appear, with Bessent stating 'there is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country' than with dollar bills bearing Trump's name. • This initiative coincides with efforts to feature Trump's image on a 24-karat gold commemorative coin for America's 250th birthday on July 4, approved earlier this month by a federal arts commission.

• At a Thursday Cabinet meeting, President Trump urged mayors and governors of blue cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to allow federal troops to 'come in and stop the crime,' citing claimed 75% crime drops in Washington, Memphis, and New Orleans. • The proposal revives past contentious deployments, including 4,000 California National Guardsmen and 700 US Marines sent after June immigration raids in LA, which a federal judge ruled unlawful for causing 'greater harm' to the city. • LA Mayor Karen Bass previously condemned such actions as a 'chaotic escalation,' and US District Judge Charles Breyer ordered control of the Guard returned to the governor, with a Supreme Court ruling ending similar nationwide deployments.

• U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) led two bipartisan bills that passed the House unanimously on March 26, 2026, aimed at strengthening federal oversight and enhancing safety at federal facilities. • The legislation targets improvements in regulatory compliance and security protocols across government properties nationwide. • This rare unanimous support highlights cross-party consensus on bolstering federal infrastructure resilience amid rising security concerns.

• The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday, March 26, 2026, to end the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, marking the third such attempt in two months after funding lapsed nearly six weeks ago. • The bill aims to restore operations but faces uncertain prospects in the Senate, unlikely to immediately resolve the prolonged funding crisis affecting border security and immigration enforcement. • This repeated House action underscores deepening partisan divides on federal spending priorities during a critical period for national security infrastructure.

• On March 3, 2026, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, reauthorizing the SBIR and STTR programs through September 30, 2031, after their expiration on September 30, 2025. • The bill, providing over $4 billion annually in non-dilutive R&D funding, introduces enhanced foreign due diligence, application limits, strategic breakthrough funding, and carryover of FY2026 funds. • This legislation safeguards U.S. technological leadership by prioritizing small innovative firms amid global competition.

• The U.S. House passed the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act (H.R. 7296/S. 1383) on February 11, 2026, by a 218-213 vote, requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. • The act mandates counties to verify citizenship, conduct ongoing voter list maintenance, and comply with uniform federal standards, overriding some state systems without added funding. • Priority for Speaker Mike Johnson and the White House, it expands county administrative burdens on election officials amid debates over voter integrity.

• On March 20, 2026, the White House issued a four-page National Policy Framework on Artificial Intelligence, recommending Congress preempt state laws interfering with a minimally burdensome federal standard while protecting children and consumers. • The framework prioritizes seven areas, including stronger parental controls for kids, letting courts decide AI training on copyrighted works, and requiring companies to cover data center energy costs without raising residential bills. • It references the March 2026 Ratepayer Protection Pledge by tech firms and calls for streamlined permitting and resources for small businesses; Democrats responded with the GUARDRAILS Act to block a related Trump executive order.

• On March 25, 2026, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1001, the Housing Options Made Easier (HOME) Act, enabling public schools, colleges, and universities to bypass local zoning rules for building housing within three miles of municipalities or counties over 5,000 population. • Developments can reach three stories or match local height limits, marking the first major 2026 housing law in a Democratic push for affordable stock; Polis also signed Senate Bill 26-001 expanding local tax use and credits for workforce housing. • The bill passed despite all Republicans and two House Democrats opposing it, aiming to address housing shortages through institutional properties.

• On March 25, 2026, the U.S. House passed H.R. 5103 by 218-206, establishing a federal commission on public safety in Washington, D.C., to formalize President Trump's March 2025 executive order promoting maximum immigration enforcement. • The commission, comprising federal officials, will develop policies redirecting law enforcement for arrests and deportations in DC, aiming to increase enforcement speed. • This partisan measure underscores Republican priorities on capital safety and immigration amid ongoing debates over federal versus local authority.

• On March 25, 2026, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser vetoed the Full Accountability in Arrest Reporting Amendment Act of 2026, unanimously passed by the Council on March 3, which required Metropolitan Police to document arrests involving federal agents. • The ACLU of DC expressed deep disappointment, arguing the emergency legislation was essential for transparency during federal-local law enforcement interactions. • This veto highlights tensions over federal oversight in the capital, potentially affecting accountability in joint operations.

• The U.S. Senate passed its version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act (H.R. 6644) by a 89-10 vote, sending it back to the House for reconciliation on federal housing policy reforms. • This bipartisan legislation aims to ease housing development barriers, building on prior House actions amid national affordable housing efforts.