Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) on Monday said the government shutdown has dragged on for so long that it’s time to start thinking about bringing the GOP-controlled House back to Washington to pass a new stopgap funding bill. The House last voted on Sept. 19, when it passed H.R. 5371, a “clean” continuing resolution…

Demolition crews started the process of tearing down part of the White House East Wing on Monday to begin construction on President Trump’s planned ballroom.  The Washington Post published a photograph of crews demolishing a portion of the East Wing. According to the outlet, two people who saw the demolition confirmed the activity was taking…

A federal appeals court on Monday said President Trump may deploy the National Guard across Oregon for now, a boon to his efforts to send troops into several Democratic-led cities. The 2-1 ruling from a three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit lifts a lower court order halting Trump’s deployment of National…

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended a contract to spend more than $170 million on new jets for the U.S. Coast Guard, including one that will be used for the secretary’s travel. The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism from congressional Democrats for entering into a contract to build the jets amid the government shutdown. Noem…

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called for a hearing on the Trump administration’s deadly strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats off the coast of Venezuela.  Smith accused the administration of refusing to answer questions regarding President Trump’s directives to strike vessels — which the administration argues are smuggling…