Week Ahead in Washington: February 8
Congress returns to Washington with less than a week to fund the Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - With just days until funding lapses for the Department of Homeland Security, lawmakers return to Washington to negotiate a deal.
It comes after President Donald Trump signed an appropriations package into law last Tuesday fully funding several departments through September. However, DHS funding was only extended through February 13th as Congressional Democrats look to use the funding fight to reign in ICE and Border Patrol.
Some of Democrats’ asks include agents stop wearing masks, require judicial warrants to enter private property, and stop roving patrols. Republicans have slammed the demands, with Alabama Senator Katie Britt, a lead negotiator, saying now is not the time for political posturing.
Other GOP lawmakers are open to the debate, if it includes tackling sanctuary cities, as well.
If funding lapses, agencies under DHS including the Coast Guard, TSA, and FEMA would be affected. ICE and Border Patrol have already been mostly funded through the Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last summer.
Also this week, lawmakers are set to speak with Jeffrey Epstein’s main associate. The House Oversight Committee is scheduled to conduct a virtual deposition Monday with Ghislaine Maxwell.
That same day, the Department of Justice will make the full, unredacted Epstein Files available for members of Congress.
Copyright 2026 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
