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This Week In Congress - February 17, 2026

Author Image Admin  -   05:00 pm  -   February 17th, 2026


United States Congress

Both the House and Senate are out this week for the Presidents’ Day recess.

Once again the government has slipped into a partial shutdown after lawmakers failed to reach agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security last week, after a failed 52-47 vote in the Senate.

Neither chamber is expected back this week, but congressional leadership has warned members to stay flexible, saying they’ll receive 48 hours’ notice if a deal materializes. 

Many Democrats say they will not support another continuing resolution for DHS funding without progress on an immigration enforcement deal. That stance held even after border czar Tom Homan announced last Thursday that immigration agents would end a so-called surge operation in Minnesota, the site of two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens last month.

There are no committee hearings scheduled for this week.