Policy Update: 1/28/26

sasha@iaje.us

Federal / Congressional Update: DHS Funding and Shutdown Risk

Congress is at a standstill over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), creating a risk of a partial government shutdown by the end of the week. The split is opposing the DHS spending bill due to proposed cuts to key oversight offices and heightened concerns about immigration enforcement accountability, and insistence on moving the full funding package forward without changes. The timing of a Senate vote remains uncertain, though Thursday is predicted.

Key Details & Developments

• Shutdown Timing & Process

  • Senate vote timing remains unclear; Thursday predicted

  • Funding expires Friday, making a partial shutdown likely

  • Uncertainty remains over whether:

    • DHS would be shut down alone, or

    • DHS would be included in a broader partial shutdown affecting multiple agencies

• DHS Spending Bill & Oversight Cuts

  • The FY2026 DHS appropriations bill would formalize funding cuts initiated under the Trump administration to:

    • Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)

    • Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO)

    • Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS)

• Context Driving Opposition

  • Incident cited as evidence that immigration agencies lack sufficient oversight. Republicans argue avoiding a shutdown should take priority and are refusing to split DHS funding from the broader package of six bills

• NILC has shared a comprehensive memo to members of congress outlining “ten meaningful measures Members of Congress should demand be included in any DHS spending bill before providing their yes vote. “

Explainer: 

The DHS funding bill has become the main obstacle to avoiding a partial government shutdown this week. Democrats are opposing the bill due to cuts to oversight offices and concerns over immigration enforcement accountability, while Republicans want to advance the full funding package unchanged. It remains unclear when the Senate will vote or whether DHS would be affected alone in a shutdown.

References

• Federal News Network, “DHS spending bill would formalize Trump cuts to oversight offices”

• The Hill, “Congress locked in standoff over DHS funding ahead of shutdown deadline”

Mississippi: HB 2 Update

Status: Has not passed Senate

What is “school choice”? Explainer re-stated:School choice policies allow families to use public education funds (such as vouchers or education savings accounts) to pay for alternatives to traditional public schools, including private or charter schools.

*please refer to last policy update for list on potential harmful impact

Resources:

Mississippi Education Freedom Act passes House vote. 

Mississippi House narrowly passes sweeping education overhaul after hours of debate on school-choice

Tears, Trump and student transfers: House barely passes school-choice bill. Will it survive?