Hakeem Jeffries

Rule Changes

Leading ICE reform negotiations

The U.S. Senate passed a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill by voice vote at 2:20 a.m. on March 27, 2026, ending a partial shutdown that began February 14 for most agencies but excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations and most U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The bill, providing back pay to 272,000 affected employees including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, awaits House approval. On March 28, President Trump signed an executive order directing DHS to pay 61,000 TSA officers using available funds, addressing massive airport delays from over 500 quits and high callouts during spring break. TSA officers began receiving paychecks on March 30 as the shutdown reached 45 days, the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history.

Updated Mar 30

Force in Play

Threatened impeachment proceedings if Trump doesn't fire Noem

States continue challenging federal immigration enforcement on multiple fronts as the legal battle expands beyond state governments to schools and civil rights organizations. U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez denied Minnesota's request for a temporary restraining order against Operation Metro Surge on February 2, 2026, citing insufficient proof of constitutional violations despite acknowledging evidence of racial profiling and excessive force. On February 4, a coalition of Minnesota school districts and educators filed a separate federal lawsuit seeking to block ICE enforcement within 1,000 feet of schools, citing traumatized students, lockdowns, and a 22% spike in daily absences following the January 7 killing of Renee Good. The crisis has escalated with two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens—Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24—prompting the DOJ Civil Rights Division to open a formal investigation into Pretti's death on January 30, now led by the FBI.

Updated Feb 11

Rule Changes

Led discharge petition to force House vote

The House passed a three-year extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies on January 8, 2026, by a 230-196 vote, with 17 Republicans joining Democrats after a discharge petition bypassed Speaker Mike Johnson's opposition. The subsidies had expired December 31, 2025, more than doubling premiums for 22 million Americans—92% of marketplace enrollees. A 60-year-old couple earning $85,000 now faces $22,600 more annually in premiums.

Updated Feb 6

Rule Changes

Led discharge petition strategy that forced January 8 House vote extending subsidies

The ACA subsidy cliff has delivered the predicted damage. Enhanced premium tax credits expired on January 1, 2026, and by late January, enrollment data confirmed the worst fears: 1.2 to 1.4 million fewer Americans signed up for marketplace coverage compared to the prior year, with total 2026 enrollment falling to 22.8–22.9 million. Average premium payments for subsidized enrollees jumped 114% as projected—from $888 to $1,904 annually—while Trump administration changes to tax credit calculations amplified the shock. State exchanges reported steep declines: California saw new sign-ups fall 32%, Massachusetts lost 13,000 enrollees, and Mississippi expects 200,000 to abandon coverage. The predicted rate shock is no longer a forecast; it is reshaping the individual insurance market in real time.

Updated Feb 6

Rule Changes

Led Democratic opposition to DHS bill; seven members broke ranks to vote yes

Congress has not completed all twelve annual spending bills on time since 1996. Fiscal Year 2026 marked a new low with a 43-day shutdown from October to November 2025—the longest in U.S. history—furloughing 900,000 workers and costing $15 billion weekly before resolution. Six bills became law early; the House passed the final package January 23, but Senate modifications over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement concerns triggered a brief partial shutdown starting January 31.

Updated Feb 5