The rebound followed a 0.5% expansion in late 2025, when a federal government shutdown weighed on output.
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.0% annualized rate in the first quarter, driven by a rebound in government spending after the shutdown, but rising gasoline prices from the war with Iran threaten to slow consumer spending and growth ahead.
The Department of Homeland Security has ordered thousands of furloughed employees back to work using available funds, a significant departure from standard shutdown procedures that raises legal and operational questions.
The partial government shutdown has forced the Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog to suspend nearly 85% of its audits, including probes into ICE detention conditions, use-of-force cases, and high-value contracts, raising alarms about accountability during ongoing enforcement operations.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are scaling back their temporary support roles at airport security checkpoints across the country, following improvements in Transportation Security Administration staffing levels after recent payment disruptions.
A path to end the longest-ever Department of Homeland Security shutdown has been derailed by Republican infighting, with hardline conservatives rejecting a Senate-passed funding plan and demanding a more partisan approach, pushing the standoff toward summer.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced that Department of Homeland Security personnel, who have worked without pay for six weeks due to the government shutdown, will receive their overdue wages by Friday, with some payments potentially arriving by Monday.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman cites principle over party loyalty as he publicly distances himself from Democratic colleagues on key issues including support for Israel and the ongoing government shutdown, signaling a growing internal divide.
As the Department of Homeland Security remains partially unfunded, the typically mundane procedural meetings of Congress have become a focal point of political maneuvering and public frustration.
The Trump administration's latest budget proposal calls for expanding private screening at U.S. airports, reigniting a long-standing debate over efficiency, cost savings, and the fundamental role of government in national security.
Michigan Rep. John James faces mounting criticism after attempting to cover up a tropical vacation during the ongoing government shutdown with outdated and misleading social media posts, highlighting a growing disconnect between lawmakers and constituents.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pushes back against critics who call the Democratic hold on Homeland Security funding a political stunt, framing it as a necessary stand for reforming immigration enforcement agencies.
With a 48-day partial Homeland Security shutdown dragging on, House Republicans vent frustration at Speaker Johnson over a Senate-brokered funding plan, even as a vote to end the impasse appears imminent.
The Senate is poised for a Thursday vote on a measure to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, offering a potential path to end the record-long partial government shutdown. The bipartisan plan faces an uncertain future in the House amid deep Republican divisions over immigration enforcement funding.
At a Minnesota town hall, Rep. Ilhan Omar outlined Democratic conditions for funding the Department of Homeland Security, linking the ongoing partial shutdown to a stalemate over immigration enforcement reforms.
While a temporary fix brought relief to some TSA agents, thousands of other Department of Homeland Security employees, including civilian Coast Guard workers, remain on the job without pay, voicing feelings of neglect and financial desperation.
Congressional Republican leaders have proposed a dual-path legislative plan aimed at fully funding the Department of Homeland Security and ending a shutdown that has crippled airport operations and left thousands of federal employees unpaid.
As a partial government shutdown strains airport security and leaves thousands unpaid, Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham were photographed in Florida, raising questions about congressional priorities during the crisis.
As a partial government shutdown drags on, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham faces criticism after TMZ publishes photos of his visit to Disney World during a congressional recess, highlighting tensions over lawmakers' activities during the funding crisis.
Travelers experienced shorter security waits Monday as some TSA officers began receiving back pay. Union leaders, however, caution that the recent exodus of experienced personnel will create long-term operational and recruitment challenges for the agency.
