House expected to vote tomorrow on ending the government shutdown

A provision tucked into the the funding package that the Senate passed last night as a part of a bipartisan deal to reopen the government would allow senators to sue the federal government for potentially millions of dollars if their data is obtained without being notified.

The legislative language would uniquely benefit eight Republican senators who were recently found to have had their phone records — but not the contents of their calls or messages — accessed as a part of the investigation that led to former special counsel Jack Smith’s probe of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

While the bill does not explicitly mention Smith’s probe, the language would retroactively apply to data requests that were made on or after Jan. 1, 2022, meaning the request of the Republican senators’ data, which was made on Sept. 27, 2023, would be susceptible to a lawsuit.

The eight senators who had their phone records accessed are: Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Read the full story here.

Trump defended H-1B visas during part of a Fox News interview that aired tonight, even as his administration has moved to make the visas costlier for qualified workers from abroad to obtain.

Asked whether his administration would prioritize the visas, Trump said the U.S. has to "bring in talent."

When pressed by Fox News host Laura Ingraham about existing talent in the U.S., Trump responded: "No, you don't have — you don't have certain talents. And you have to — people have to learn."

Trump has at times offered contradictory remarks on immigration. While he often suggests that immigration has allowed "criminals" into the country, other times he has acknowledged the role it plays in economic growth and innovation.

Trump signed a proclamation in September requiring companies to pay a $100,000 fee to obtain H-1B worker visas in a move that marked a win for immigration hardliners on Capitol Hill, but that posed a costlier hurtle to tech executives seeking qualified workers from abroad.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and other CEOs will visit the White House tomorrow for a dinner with Trump, a person familiar with the matter told NBC News.

The dinner would be the latest in a series of high-profile events that Trump has held with top business executives.

In September, he hosted a dinner that included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Apple CEO Tim Cook.

The White House said that discussion "centered on harnessing artificial intelligence to propel the U.S. to the forefront of global innovation."

When Trump hosted Republican senators for lunch at the White House on Oct. 21, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, came prepared.

Moreno, who was born in Colombia, has become a key voice on policy involving the Latin American nation — and one that’s deeply critical of the current left-wing president, Gustavo Petro.

Two days before the lunch, Trump, at odds with Petro for months, posted on social media that Petro was “an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs” in Colombia. Trump said he was stopping all U.S. aid to the country and told reporters he would soon announce new tariffs on Colombia.

Moreno wanted to encourage Trump to take a more targeted approach — directly aimed at Petro. To do so, the senator brought along a document titled “The Trump Doctrine For Colombia and the Western Hemisphere.” In addition to five policy ideas, the one-page outline featured large images of Petro and Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, in orange prison jumpsuits. The images appear to be generated by artificial intelligence. NBC News obtained the memo from a person familiar with the episode.

Read the full story here.

With a potential end to the government shutdown in sight, the Supreme Court tonight extended a freeze on a federal judge’s ruling that would require the Trump administration to fully fund the SNAP food program in November.

The decision means the government, for now, does not have to distribute about $4 billion in additional SNAP funding as required by Rhode Island-based U.S. District Judge John McConnell. The Supreme Court block remains in place until midnight on Thursday.

The case would likely become moot if the shutdown ends, as the bipartisan bill to reopen the government would fully fund the SNAP program through September of next year. The House is expected to vote tomorrow on the Senate-passed measure to end the record-long shutdown.

Nearly 42 million people rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.

Read the full story here.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is scheduled to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva tomorrow — nearly two months after the Arizona Democrat won her late father’s seat in a special election.

Johnson has consistently said he would administer the oath of office to Grijalva when Democrats vote to reopen the government. The Senate passed a bipartisan measure to do just that last night, with the House expected to vote on the legislation tomorrow.

When Grijalva is sworn in, the House breakdown will be 219 Republicans to 214 Democrats.

Grijalva is expected to be the 218th signature on the discharge petition to force a House floor vote requiring the Justice Department to publicly release all the files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. There is still an additional waiting period of seven legislative days before any of the signers of the petition can force a vote on it. The House speaker then has two legislative days before he must call up the measure for a vote on the floor.

During a phone interview today on ESPN's "Pat McAfee Show," Trump suggested that "colleges are all going to go out of business, no matter how rich they are" unless "very powerful caps" are created to limit the salaries of collegiate athletes.

A type of salary cap already exists in the NCAA, however.

In June, a judge approved the landmark House settlement between the NCAA and Division I athletes that allows universities to share revenue gained from athletics and directly pay their athletes for the first time. Universities can disburse up to $20.5 million during the 2025-26 school year. That cap will increase by an estimated 4% annually over the lifespan of the decade-long deal.

The payments are on top of scholarships and other financial benefits the athletes can receive. Schools that have elected to pay athletes under the revenue-sharing cap have devised different models for dividing the payments. Of the $20.5 million this year, Texas Tech University projected sharing 74% with players on its football team. The University of Missouri, by comparison, has reportedly elected to spend a smaller percentage on football, while paying out more to its men's basketball and baseball teams.

The House Rules Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. to take up the Senate-passed funding package to reopen the government.

The rules panel is a necessary step before the legislation can make it to the House floor. The committee will create a rule that will dictate how floor debate goes tomorrow, including how long it takes.

The Justice Department today notified U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who oversaw the lawsuit on the dismantling of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, that the independent agency may be out of money as soon as early 2026.

“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau anticipates exhausting its currently available funds in early 2026,” DOJ attorneys wrote. They cited an Office of Legal Counsel opinion out this week that says beyond Dec. 31, 2025, “there are no funds available from CFPB’s congressionally authorized source of funding.”

“Because the only lawful source of funding from the Federal Reserve has dried up, the proper method for additional funds is to request them from Congress pursuant to the Appropriations Cause, not to draw from the Federal Reserve without a congressional appropriation,” T. Elliot Gaiser of the Office of Legal Counsel wrote this week.

Trump claimed in his remarks at Arlington National Cemetery today that his administration has made headway in addressing a yearslong backlog of veterans' benefit requests, saying the department has reduced unprocessed claims by half since he took office in January.

"That’s a big achievement, and Doug is going to get it down to zero," Trump said, referring to Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins.

Trump vowed to eliminate "100% of that backlog. We’re moving at that pace, and already we processed more than 3 million backlog claims," he said.

In August, the VA said that it had processed about 2.5 million claims this fiscal year and was "completing them 17.8% faster" than in fiscal 2024 despite what it said was a 10% uptick in claims.

Asked for more recent figures, VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz shared a graph that he said supports Trump's claim. Kasperowicz said there were 264,717 claims still not processed at the end of the Biden administration. While the graph shows that figure is down to 134,000, Kasperowicz said the graph lags the latest number, which he said is now less than 120,000.

The aircraft carrier strike group that the Defense Department deployed as part of the administration's military actions against drug cartels has arrived in the Latin American region.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement today that the enhanced presence in the region "will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group to move last month from the Mediterranean Sea to the Caribbean to support Trump's efforts to dismantle alleged drug-carrying operations.

The strike group's area of responsibility is known as SOUTHCOM, which encompasses Latin America south of Mexico, the waters next to Central and South America, and the Caribbean, according to the Pentagon.

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives in Marseille, France, in August. Gerard Bottino / Sipa USA via AP file

Senate Republicans say they’re open to extending a pot of Affordable Care Act funds that will expire at the end of the year — but only if Democrats acquiesce to stricter abortion restrictions on insurance plans.

The demand presents a significant hurdle to reaching a bipartisan deal to extend ACA funding, designed to avoid major premium hikes next year for more than 20 million Americans, as Democrats are adamant that existing abortion guardrails under Obamacare are sufficient.

Read the full story here.

For the first time since Sept. 19, the House will be in session and holding votes tomorrow.

In order to reopen the government, the House needs to pass the same legislation that the Senate passed last night. This package extends government funding through Jan. 30 and also includes a “minibus” of three full-year appropriations bills and fully funds SNAP benefits through the end of next September.

Members of the House were notified last night to return to D.C. for votes as early as 4 p.m. tomorrow. Here’s what will happen next: 

Trump touted his administration's efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, including his executive order in May to establish the National Center for Warrior Independence, which provides housing, job training and substance abuse services to veterans in the Los Angeles area.

He also highlighted his signing of the VA Home Loan Program Reform Act in July, which aims to help veterans avoid foreclosures.

Trump pointed to veteran unemployment rates, which fell from 4.2% in January to 3.1% in August, the last month of available data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In his remarks, Trump noted that several countries hold annual celebrations to commemorate the victories in World War I and World War II while the U.S. typically did not participate in similar celebrations.

"They were all celebrating, we're the one that won the wars," Trump said, calling out France in particular.

Shortly after, he mentioned the United Kingdom and Russia as well.

"When I see other countries celebrating Victory Day — I watched it. I watched U.K., I watched Russia, they were celebrating Victory Day in World War II, and I said, 'We got to have a Victory Day,'" Trump said. "Nobody even talked about it in our country. But from now on, we're going to be celebrating Victory Day."

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance salute at the conclusion of a Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. Brendan Smialowski / AFP - Getty Images

Trump pointed out several members of the Cabinet who are at his Veterans Day speech.

The speech appeared to be attended by Secretaries Doug Collins, Pete Hegseth, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Doug Burgum, Chris Wright, Linda McMahon and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Trump also shouted out to Budget Director Russ Vought, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

The watchdog group Campaign for Accountability has filed formal complaints with the Florida and Virginia bar associations against the acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Lindsey Halligan.

The left-leaning group accuses Halligan, a former Trump personal attorney who has brought criminal cases against his political adversaries James Comey and Letitia James, of violating multiple rules of professional conduct, including the prohibition of the prosecution of a charge the prosecutor knows is not supported by evidence. 

"Ms. Halligan’s actions appear to constitute an abuse of power and serve to undermine the integrity of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and erode public confidence in the legal profession and the fair administration of justice," the complaint says.

The complaint does not seek any specific penalty against Halligan, but calls for the bar associations to investigate her and “impose appropriate disciplinary measures” if they find any ethical violations occurred.

A White House spokesman responded to reporting that White House officials are “furious” with Bill Pulte, who runs the Federal Housing Finance Agency, for pitching Trump on a 50-year mortgage plan. 

“President Trump is committed to making it easier and more affordable to achieve the American Dream of homeownership by eliminating unnecessary red tape, increasing supply, and lowering costs," White House spokesman Davis Ingle said. "The White House and the entire Trump administration are appreciative of Mr. Pulte’s efforts, and everyone is working together to implement the President’s policies."

Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Trump stands next to Vice President JD Vance as they salute during a wreath-laying ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery to mark Veterans Day.

As the fallout from the government shutdown continues to wreak havoc on air travel plans, flight delays and cancellations are accelerating at airports across the United States due to ongoing staffing shortages — with some air traffic controllers and TSA officers now working without two paychecks. NBC’s Tom Costello reports for "TODAY."

Flight Disruptions Accelerate Amid Air Traffic Controller Shortage

02:22

FBI Director Kash Patel visited China last week to discuss fentanyl and law enforcement issues, arriving in Beijing on Friday and holding talks with Chinese officials Saturday, according to a source familiar with the visit. 

His visit was first reported by Reuters. 

During talks with Trump last month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed to intensify China’s efforts to stem the flow of fentanyl precursor chemicals. In exchange, Trump reduced his fentanyl-related tariffs on Chinese goods to 10% from 20%. 

Yesterday, China announced new restrictions on the export of 13 precursor chemicals to the United States, Canada and Mexico, including those used to produce the synthetic opioid that is blamed for tens of thousands of U.S. overdose deaths each year.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat who is vying to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins next year, criticized the Republican senator for joining her party to vote down a one-year extension of expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies in the run-up to passage of the government funding bill.

“Susan Collins just voted against extending the ACA subsidies. This vote is a betrayal of Maine people, and it will send health care costs through the roof,” Mills said on X. “While I have fought to expand health care and to make it more affordable, Senator Collins and Republicans in Washington are doing the opposite.”

In response, Collins campaign spokesperson Shawn Roderick told NBC News the senator wants income-based restrictions on the ACA funds in order to renew them.

“Susan Collins has been clear that she supports extending the ACA subsidies, but believes there should be an income cap so wealthy people are not eligible for subsidies that are intended for people who are struggling to afford their insurance,” Roderick said. “Janet Mills’ position seems to be that wealthy Mainers making $300,000 a year should receive taxpayer funded health care subsidies.”

House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, has decided not to seek re-election, he told Fox News.

“I have a firm conviction, much like our founders did, that public service is a lifetime commitment, but public office is and should be a temporary stint in stewardship, not a career,” Arrington told Fox.

NBC News reached out to Arrington's office for comment.

The Texas Republican has served in the House since 2017 and has led the House Budget Committee since 2023. He represents the 19th Congressional District, which is located in the upper midwestern part of the state and includes Lubbock and Abilene.

Arrington is the 21st House Republican to announce plans to retire or seek other office at the end of the current term.

Trump asked the Supreme Court yesterday to review a $5 million civil judgment that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll.

A jury in 2023 awarded the judgment after it found Trump liable of sexual abuse, following Carroll’s allegations that Trump assaulted her in the dressing room of a Manhattan department store in 1996 and later defamed her during his first term by referring to her allegations as a “hoax” and a “con job.”

Read the full story here.

A Utah judge late last night rejected new congressional district lines drawn by Republican state lawmakers, instead approving a new map drawing a solidly Democratic seat with voters from Salt Lake City that’s likely to flip in next year’s midterms.

The ruling is a blow for Republicans, who had designed a map to protect the state’s all-GOP congressional delegation, and a big win for Democrats who have struggled to find places to respond in kind to Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting efforts and win control of the House. 

Read the full story here.

House lawmakers were notified last night that votes on the Senate-passed legislation to reopen the government could start as soon as 4 p.m. tomorrow, according to a whip notice.

The notice indicates that multiple vote series are likely. The House Rules Committee will need to approve a rule that the full House must adopt before debate and a vote on the legislation itself.

The House last held votes Sept. 19. 

Trump repeated criticism last night of air traffic controllers who have been absent during parts of the record-long government shutdown, when they’re required to work without pay.

During a Fox News interview, Trump discussed the employees who in some cases have had to take on second jobs to pay their bills amid a funding lapse that will hit the six-week mark today.

“You know, a lot of people who showed up also had a second job. They took a second job temporarily. But they all know the money’s coming, and the money was coming,” Trump told host Laura Ingraham.

Read the full story here.

With the government shutdown now poised to end, it’s clear Republicans are in worse shape politically now than when it started. The question is whether that will prove to be temporary — as has been the case with past funding showdowns — or if the political atmosphere has been reset in a way that will linger into next year’s midterm elections.

As the six-week shutdown played out, Trump’s job approval rating ebbed to the lowest point of his second term, with a majority of voters pinning the blame on him and Republicans in Congress. Democrats opened up a wide lead in the generic congressional ballot — 8 points in our NBC News poll, a level last seen in the run-up to the “blue wave” in the 2018 midterms.

And then there was last Tuesday, when Democrats posted an unexpected landslide in New Jersey, a state where both parties saw the gubernatorial contest as competitive and recent elections had suggested Republican momentum. Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill’s victory was so staggering that it lifted a host of downballot Democrats and gave the party its largest state Assembly majority in a half-century. The Democratic rout was even bigger in Virginia: The party’s deeply flawed candidate for attorney general, Jay Jones, coasted easily on the coattails of Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger.

Read the full story here.

Trump is confident that he drew the right battle lines when he launched a nationwide redistricting fight to try to preserve the Republican House majority, GOP strategists familiar with the White House’s thinking say — even after last Tuesday’s election results gave Democrats openings to counterstrike in California and Virginia.

But two other Republicans close to the White House told NBC News that there are growing concerns in the party that the political war is not going as planned — that the juice may not have been worth the squeeze and could, in a nightmare scenario, result in a net gain for Democrats. And within broader GOP circles, misgivings about the strategy heightened last week after California voters overwhelmingly approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts in a manner that Democrats hope will flip five House seats in their direction.

Read the full story here.

Many Democrats are fuming after a breakaway group of eight senators teamed up with Republicans to strike a deal to reopen the government without extending health care subsidies, backing off on the demand that led to the shutdown.

The agreement, which cleared a key procedural hurdle late Sunday by a vote of 60-40, sparked heavy criticism from congressional candidates, progressive activists and Democratic lawmakers. That includes some members with higher ambitions, who said it shows party leaders are not up to the task of marshaling effective opposition to Trump.

Read the full story here.

The Senate passed legislation last night to reopen the government and end the record-long shutdown after eight Democrats broke with their party and joined Republicans to break the logjam.

The vote was 60-40, with every Republican except Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voting in favor of the measure.

The measure now goes to the House, which could vote as early as tomorrow to pass the package and send it to Trump, who said yesterday that he supports the bipartisan deal.

Read the full story here.