Hello readers, and happy Thursday. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional reporter, filling in for Kathryn Palmer. Greetings from the U.S. Capitol, where senators are leaving for the week. I just walked past Republican Sen. David McCormick donning workout gear, presumably on his way to the Senate's members-only gym. It's official: Both Pennsylvania senators wore athletic shorts at work today (Democrat John Fetterman has basketball shorts and a hoodie on regularly). |
Let's dive into today's top politics stories. |
Alaska Republican cautiously cites early Iran war price tag |
My colleague Cybele Mayes-Osterman, our national security reporter, and I were among the first reporters to confirm yesterday that Pentagon officials told members of Congress this week that the war in Iran cost at least $11.3 billion in munitions alone the first week. That total, however, does not include money spent operating and maintaining the military force engaged in the war, or battle damage sustained from Iran's attacks. (The New York Times first reported the number.) Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said in the halls of the Senate today that she doubted the early estimates of the war's price tag. "As we've seen in recent days, the level of activity has stepped up," she told a group of reporters. "I think it's hard to say what's the price per day right now, as we are still very much in the thick of it." | Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, speaks to reporters in the Senate subway during a vote on March 4. Elizabeth Frantz, REUTERS |
Senate passes big housing reform bill |
The Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan housing reform bill today, as both parties attempt to hold a laser focus on affordability issues ahead of the midterm elections. The legislation, part of an effort to bring down home costs for everyday Americans, would mostly ban large institutional investors from competing with traditional buyers for existing single-family homes, a priority President Donald Trump raised during his recent State of the Union address. Though the legislation is supported by the White House, the fate of a vote in the House of Representatives is less certain at the moment, given the lack of universal support among Republicans in that chamber as conservatives have pushed back over a provision related to digital currency. |
War, long TSA lines raise stakes to end DHS shutdown |
The debates in the Senate were fierce this week as pressure mounted daily to end the monthlong Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Democrats today blocked a Republican bill to fully fund the agency while a deal over reforming immigration enforcement is negotiated with the White House. Increasingly long TSA lines and heightened terrorism threats amid the Iran war are intensifying the urgency to end the political showdown. Still, there are no signs yet that the two sides are closer. The ouster of Kristi Noem was a positive change for Democrats, though. Her replacement, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, will have a confirmation hearing next Wednesday. |
Thanks for reading! Scroll down for more stories. You can reach me by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow me on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social. | | According to an estimate the Pentagon shared with Congress, the U.S. used up billions of dollars in munitions in the first two days of the war. | | The Senate passed a marquee bipartisan housing reform bill, sending it to the House of Representatives. | | | | Lawmakers argued exasperatedly on the Senate floor amid an impasse in talks to fund the Department of Homeland Security. | | | | The Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway used to carry shipments of oil to countries around the world, is a point of contention amid the U.S.-Iran War. | | | | Bills that would treat abortion as homicide have been proposed in other states. While they have consistently failed, some are still being considered. | | | | | Sign up for the news you want | Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don't miss out! We're always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. | | | | | |
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