Senate lawmakers reached an impasse once again Wednesday over a funding deal to reopen the Department of Homeland Security, with both Republicans and Democrats rejecting each other’s proposals. Democrats want to see more accountability mechanisms for immigration enforcement officers. Republicans want to see the president’s anti-immigration agenda funded again.
On Wednesday evening, the president will speak at the National Republican Congressional Committee’s annual dinner. Here is a recap of news from the Trump administration Wednesday, March 25.
4:35 p.m. - Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked on DHS funding
Senate Republicans and Democrats continue to clash over a potential deal to fund DHS with new restrictions on immigration enforcement officers, dragging the department’s shutdown into its 40th day.
Democrats rejected Republicans’ offer, backed by Trump, Tuesday evening, believing the proposal did not add enough enforcement mechanisms for ICE. In exchange, Republicans rejected Democrats' renewed proposal, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune saying it was “not even close to being real.”
Another day of failed negotiations Wednesday means lawmakers are in a similar position as they were more than a month ago when the shutdown began. It also means travelers can continue to expect long lines at airports experiencing TSA staff shortages.
3:00 p.m. - Acting CDC director acknowledges disagreements with Kennedy
National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who is also temporarily running the CDC, told CDC staff in an internal meeting that he had “scientific” disagreements with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but that the secretary still “listens.”
“Do we agree on every single item? No,” Bhattacharya said of Kennedy, according to audio obtained by NOTUS. “We may have disagreements about scientific matters, but he listens.”
That includes their position on measles vaccines, which Bhattacharya said he would strongly recommend to parents to prevent children from contracting the illness.
The Independent has asked the CDC for comment.
1:41 p.m. - Leavitt accuses Democrats of negotiating in bad faith during press briefing
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt continued to blame Senate Democrats for not cutting a deal with Republicans and the president to fund DHS, claiming they were purposefully being ‘cruel’ to distract Americans from the U.S. military wins abroad.
“We have attempted in good faith numerous times… to go to the Democrats with reasonable offers,” Leavitt said. “The cruelty is the point. They want this chaos.”
In addition, Leavitt said the president would reschedule his trip to China for May 14 – it was initially postponed because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
11:30 a.m. - Melania Trump introduces humanoid robot to international leaders
First Lady Melania Trump walked into her Fostering the Future Together coalition roundtable with a talking humanoid robot called “Figure3” – a nod to advancements in technology, which her initiative is focused on.
Wearing a white pantsuit, which matched the walking robot, the first lady marked the first time a humanoid robot was presented to international leaders in a diplomatic setting.
Melania Trump’s initiative calls for supporting children’s education to advance technology and adapt to artificial intelligence.
11:14 a.m. - Trump suggests he will put National Guard in airports
Trump increased pressure on Senate Democrats to cut a deal, quickly, with Republicans to fund DHS, by threatening to put National Guard members in airports – a similar tactic he used to pressure Democratic state leaders to comply with immigration enforcement last year.
On Truth Social, the president blamed Democrats “for the Airport’s mess” and praised Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, who he deployed to more than a dozen airports, for assisting in security.
“Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference. I may call up the National Guard for more help,” Trump wrote.
10:40 a.m. - FEMA spokesperson says disaster resources fund could be depleted by major storm
A spokesperson for the Federal Emergency Management Agency told lawmakers the agency’s disaster resources fund could be “depleted pretty rapidly” if a storm of large magnitude were to hit the U.S. anytime soon.
Victoria Barton told members of Congress the fund was down to $3.6 billion, which would not provide much relief to people experiencing a natural disaster. She said there was further stress because of outstanding obligations that hadn’t been addressed.
Forecasters have warned this year’s Atlantic hurricane season could bring up to 16 storms to the U.S.
10:32 a.m - TSA head says agents are desperate for paychecks
After 40 days without a paycheck, some TSA agents have received eviction notices, defaulted on loans, drained retirement savings, slept in their cars and even sold their blood and plasma for extra money, the TSA acting administrator told members of Congress.
Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill testified that transportation security officers were under enormous stress already, since this is the third shutdown of the fiscal year. She said the funding lapses “significantly undermine” security in the U.S., in addition to hurting individual agents.
At least 480 transportation security officers have left the agency since the shutdown began.
9:40 a.m. – Deal to end DHS shutdown hits a wall
Senate Republicans are trying to negotiate a deal with Democrats while also appeasing the president that will reopen the Department of Homeland Security and pay airport workers, such as TSA agents and air traffic controllers, after funding lapsed more than a month ago.
Momentum toward a potential resolution ended Tuesday evening after Senate Democrats rejected a deal that would have funded most of DHS’s agencies, other than immigration enforcement, because it did not include enough to hold federal agents accountable.
Trump had expressed little support for the deal, telling reporters Tuesday, “I think any deal they make, I'm pretty much not happy with it."
As senators and the White House try to strike a deal, the House Committee on Homeland Security will hear from FEMA and TSA officials affected by the DHS shutdown at 10 a.m. ET.
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