Washington On One - 2/9/2026

THE LEDE:  1 week to go and no progress on DHS appropriations…Trump tries 'softer' tact on immigration, ICE and CBP officers in Minneapolis will wear body cameras, Noem announces …Trump deletes racist video after Hill GOP backlash…The Trump administration is rescinding $1.5 billion in health and transportation funds from four Democratic-led states — Colorado, Illinois, California and Minnesota…White House to launch TrumpRx platform…Trump announced he reached a trade deal with India after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to no longer buy Russian oil, turning to the U.S. instead…A treaty between the United States and Russia that had been in place for 15 years expired Wednesday, but what will happen next is unclear…Virginia Dems drop new map Congressional map, likely to achieve a 10D -1R split… The Supreme Court refused to strike down the new congressional map that California voters approved for the midterms, handing Democrats a major win in the national redistricting battle…Trump gives State Department power to impose tariffs on countries that import from Iran…Trump hosts Colombian President Petro…The man who was convicted of trying to kill Trump while he golfed in Florida during the 2024 presidential campaign has been sentenced to life in prison..Barry Lpudermilk (R-GA) and Rep. Mark Amodeim(R-NV) mark the 29^th and 30th House Republican to not seek reelection (hmm what do they think will happen in Nov?)…

THE WEEK AHEAD:   As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding deadline looms this Friday, February 13, Republican leadership must navigate a contentious political landscape after Democrats issued a ten-point list of demands focused on "reining in" ICE through mandatory body cameras, judicial warrant requirements, and a ban on agents wearing masks. This legislative week begins on Monday with the House Rules Committee meeting at 4:00 p.m., followed by the Senate’s return at 5:30 p.m. for a procedural vote on an assistant attorney general nominee and House floor votes at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday’s schedule is packed with oversight, including a House Homeland Security hearing on ICE, CBP, and USCIS, a House Natural Resources markup on public lands, and Senate sessions covering broadband funding, digital media ownership, and a high-stakes Judiciary hearing on the "Arctic Frost" investigation and Minnesota fraud. On Wednesday, the focus shifts to a House Judiciary oversight hearing on the Justice Department, an Appropriations subcommittee review of DHS shutdown impacts, and dual Veterans' Affairs hearings in both chambers—one on VHA reorganization and the other on modernizing VA healthcare—while the Senate Homeland Security Committee conducts its own oversight of ICE. The week concludes on Thursday with the Senate Finance Committee evaluating the USMCA trade agreement, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee reviewing public lands and permitting bills, and a critical Senate Commerce hearing on the NTSB’s final report regarding the tragic January 2025 midair collision at Reagan National Airport (DCA)…Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Washington, D.C., this week to follow up on the U.S.’s talks with Iran about its nuclear program.

NUMBERS:  The Bureau of Labor Statistics said job openings decreased to 6.54 million in December, the lowest level since 2020. Layoffs edged also edged up, fueled by cuts in transportation and warehousing… U.S. farm profits are projected to decline 2.6 percent this year, as farmers continue to face rising input costs, and uncertainty around tariffs and USDA programs.

SHUTDOWN:  The House Appropriations Committee is currently at the epicenter of the Homeland Security funding battle, with a full department shutdown over ICE operations looming as a distinct possibility. Negotiations have stalled as Republicans dig in against a recent list of Democratic demands, while Democratic leadership remains fractured.  Three hearings this week could further polarize the debate. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons and other DHS officials will testify before both the House and Senate Homeland Security Committees; their reception will likely dictate the tone of ongoing talks. Simultaneously, the House Appropriations DHS Subcommittee will host officials from TSA, FEMA, CISA, the Secret Service, and the Coast Guard to highlight the cascading effects of a funding lapse.  Republicans are using this testimony to argue that a shutdown would compromise critical, non-immigration services—a point of contention after top Democrat Rosa DeLauro suggested funding all DHS agencies except ICE and CBP. Republican leadership rejected this, while DeLauro warned that the GOP would bear responsibility for any payroll disruptions.  Key to the resolution is the dynamic between Subcommittee Chair Mark Amodei (R-NV) ( who announced his retirement on from the House on Friday) and Ranking Member Henry Cuellar (D-TX). Cuellar, a moderate in a tough reelection fight, remains a staunch supporter of a full-year bill. Amodei, recently retired and increasingly vocal, has criticized Secretary Kristi Noem for ignoring congressional spending levels. Despite his frustrations with the administration, Amodei remains adamantly opposed to a shutdown, labeling the potential sidelining of FEMA and the Coast Guard as "beyond reckless."

TONING IT DOWN:  President Trump is shifting his immigration strategy following the fatal Minneapolis shootings of U.S. citizens Renée Good and Alex Pretti. During a February 4 interview with NBC’s Tom Llamas, Trump acknowledged the need for a “softer touch,” admitting the administration faces a public relations challenge as polls show 60% of Americans believe ICE has gone “too far.”  White House border czar Tom Homan, who replaced Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, announced the withdrawal of 700 officials from Minneapolis—roughly 25% of the local surge force. This de-escalation follows "unprecedented collaboration" with local sheriffs to move enforcement from street raids into controlled jail settings.  Despite the tactical shift, Trump remains firm on mass deportations, though he is navigating significant pushback from influential allies like Joe Rogan, who recently compared ICE tactics to the Gestapo. As DHS funding negotiations continue in Congress, the administration aims to balance "toughness" with restraint to shore up declining support ahead of the midterms.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES:   On February 5, 2026, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) finalized the "Schedule Policy/Career" rule, enabling the Trump administration to reclassify an estimated 50,000 policy-focused federal workers as at-will employees. This move strips these career professionals of long-standing civil service safeguards and adverse-action appeal rights.  OPM Director Scott Kupor framed the rule as an accountability measure to address "policy resistance" and misconduct, arguing it ensures the bureaucracy effectively executes the administration’s objectives. Critics, however, view it as an attempt to dismantle the "Deep State" by replacing nonpartisan expertise with political loyalty.  The rule also reshapes whistleblower protocols: employees must now report wrongdoing internally to their agency’s general counsel—a political appointee—rather than the independent Office of Special Counsel.  Labor unions and advocacy groups have condemned the shift. AFGE President Everett Kelley called it a "direct assault" on the merit-based system, while Democracy Forward’s Skye Perryman labeled the regulation an unlawful power grab. Legal challenges, which were paused during rulemaking, are expected to resume immediately as opponents seek to block the rule before it takes effect on March 8.

DRUG PRICING:  On February 5, 2026, the administration launched TrumpRx.gov, a direct-to-consumer digital platform designed to bypass insurance intermediaries and lower prescription costs. Built on "Most Favored Nation" (MFN) agreements, the site ensures Americans pay prices aligned with the lowest rates in other developed nations.  The platform functions as a clearinghouse rather than a pharmacy; it directs users to manufacturer sites or provide coupons for retail use. At launch, the portal features 43 high-cost medications from partners including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, and EMD Serono. Notable price drops include Ozempic and Wegovy—falling to as low as $199—and significant reductions for IVF treatments.  While the platform does not accept insurance, it aims to provide a transparent "cash-price" alternative for the uninsured or those with high deductibles. Critics, however, label it a "glorified coupon book" that could undermine broader insurance-based price negotiations.

INDIA:  President Trump announced a breakthrough trade deal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ending months of economic friction. Under the agreement, the U.S. rescinded a 25% punitive tariff imposed last August over India’s Russian oil imports and reduced the "reciprocal tariff" from 25% to 18%. In exchange, India committed to phasing out Russian oil purchases, potentially pivoting to U.S. and Venezuelan supplies.  While Trump claimed India would reduce its industrial tariffs to zero and purchase $500 billion in U.S. goods over five years, Indian officials have been more cautious, emphasizing "diversified energy security" rather than a blanket ban on Russian crude. Nevertheless, the deal significantly improves India's competitive edge over regional rivals like China (34%) and Vietnam (20%). Trump framed the deal as a major step toward ending the Ukraine war by cutting off Russian revenue as the conflict enters its fourth year.

COLOMBIA:  President Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro held a remarkably cordial meeting at the White House last Tuesday, marking a sharp pivot from months of volatile rhetoric. Relations between the two leaders had reached a low point following "Operation Absolute Resolve"—the January 3, 2026, U.S. military raid in Caracas that captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro—and subsequent U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.  In the weeks prior, Trump had labeled Petro a "sick man" and suggested Colombia could face similar military intervention. Petro, in turn, had accused the U.S. of prioritizing oil interests over democracy. However, the tone shifted following a mid-January phone call and Petro’s decision to extradite high-level gang leaders and resume deportation flights.  During the two-hour Oval Office session, Trump called Petro "terrific," while Petro praised the President's frankness. The meeting concluded with symbolic gestures of detente, including Trump gifting Petro a signed copy of The Art of the Deal. The two leaders agreed to establish a new bilateral framework focused on regional security, energy transport, and a trilateral counternarcotics effort involving Ecuador. 

RUSSIA:  The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) officially expired on Thursday, February 5, 2026, ending the final binding limit on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. Originally signed in 2010, the pact capped the U.S. and Russia at 1,550 deployed warheads and 700 delivery systems. Its expiration removes the legal framework for mutual inspections and transparency that has stabilized the bilateral relationship since the Cold War.  In anticipation of the lapse, President Trump instructed the Department of Defense in October 2025 to begin testing nuclear weapons on an "equal basis" with Russia and China. CIA Director John Ratcliffe justified the shift by citing evidence of "secret, low-yield" tests by U.S. adversaries that violate the zero-yield standard. While U.S. officials claim these tests are necessary for modernization, critics warn that abandoning the 34-year moratorium on explosive testing could ignite a global arms race involving China, North Korea, and Iran.

EPSTEIN:  Members of Congress gain access today to a secure Justice Department reading room to review unredacted versions of the Jeffrey Epstein files. This follows a February 6 letter from Assistant Attorney General Patrick Davis, which established strict protocols: lawmakers must provide 24 hours' notice, review documents on government computers without staff, and may only take handwritten notes.  While Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently declared the publication of 3.5 million pages as the final release under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have criticized the DOJ for shielding prominent names while inadvertently exposing victims' identities through "sloppy" redactions.  The House Oversight Committee continues its parallel investigation, having successfully pressured Bill and Hillary Clinton into sitting for private depositions later this month—February 27 and 26, respectively—after threatening them with contempt. Today also features remote testimony from Ghislaine Maxwell, though she is expected to invoke the Fifth Amendment. As new details emerge regarding figures like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, this unredacted access is expected to intensify demands for full public accountability ahead of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s testimony on Wednesday.

VOTERS ARE VOTING:   A special primary election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District remains too close to call as progressive activist Analilia Mejia holds a narrow lead over former Rep. Tom Malinowski. Following the Thursday vote to fill the seat vacated by Governor Mikie Sherrill, Mejia led by approximately 868 votes (29.1% to 27.7%) as of Sunday morning.  The race saw a dramatic shift after Decision Desk HQ retracted an early call for Malinowski. Mejia, the former political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, leveraged endorsements from Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to surge past a crowded 11-candidate field.  The contest was defined by heavy outside spending, notably a $2.3 million attack blitz against Malinowski by the United Democracy Project, a super PAC affiliated with AIPAC. While the ads focused on Malinowski’s stock-trading history and a 2019 immigration vote, the group targeted him over his openness to conditioning aid to Israel. Ironically, the spending appears to have backfired on pro-Israel advocates by propping up Mejia, who has been more critical of Israel. The winner will face Republican Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway in the April 16 special election.

NO, IT IS NOT 1998:  House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has successfully used the threat of criminal contempt to compel Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify regarding their associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Despite months of deadlock, a bipartisan committee vote last month moved the contempt resolutions toward the House floor, forcing a weekend of high-stakes negotiations.  On January 31, the Clintons’ legal team proposed a limited, four-hour deposition for Bill and written responses from Hillary. Comer rejected these terms on Monday, dismissing them as a demand for special treatment. As the House Rules Committee prepared to advance the contempt rule later that day, the Clintons finally capitulated to all committee terms.  Consequently, the Clintons will sit for private depositions: Hillary on February 26 and Bill on February 27. While the couple is still pushing for public hearings, Comer maintains that private depositions are more substantive, suggesting they may lose their appetite for a public appearance afterward. This strategy mirrors Comer’s 2024 success with Hunter Biden, where he similarly leveraged contempt proceedings to secure a private deposition over demands for a public forum.

RARE EARTH MINERALS:   President Trump is launching Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic mineral stockpile designed to insulate U.S. manufacturers from supply shocks and reduce dependence on China. Confirmed on Monday, February 2, the initiative is funded by a record $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and $1.67 billion in private capital.  The stockpile will focus on rare earths and critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and gallium—essential for EVs, semiconductors, and defense technologies. Unlike the military-focused National Defense Stockpile, Project Vault serves civilian giants such as General Motors, Boeing, and Google. Three major trading houses—Hartree Partners, Traxys North America, and Mercuria Energy Group—will manage procurement.  The rollout coincides with a high-level Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington this week, hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Attended by delegations from over 50 nations, including the DRC and Australia, the summit aims to finalize a framework for global supply chain security. This follows the December launch of the Pax Silica Declaration, a broader U.S.-led effort to secure the AI and semiconductor ecosystem. While the administration touts "Project Vault" as a breakthrough for "energy dominance," critics and allies alike are closely watching how the U.S. balances this aggressive strategy with global market stability and environmental concerns.

WATCH THIS SPACE:  White House crypto policy adviser Patrick Witt led a closed-door meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building to resolve a standoff between the banking and cryptocurrency industries. The goal is a compromise by month’s end to revive the CLARITY Act, a market structure bill stalled in the Senate Banking Committee.  The dispute centers on "stablecoin yield": whether digital asset exchanges can pay rewards to holders. Major banks, represented by groups like the ABA and BPI, argue these yields mimic high-interest deposits and risk a "deposit flight" from traditional institutions. Conversely, firms like Coinbase, Circle, and Ripple contend that banning yields stifles innovation and competition.  The White House is pushing for a middle ground that protects bank liquidity without gutting crypto product features. Smaller drafting groups will now meet to finalize legislative text before a potential Senate floor vote.