Congress Returns to Negotiate DHS Funding, Epstein Files

Lawmakers face deadline to fund Homeland Security as Democrats seek policy changes; House Oversight to depose Epstein associate

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Congress returns to Washington this week with less than a week to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which is set to lapse on February 13th. Democrats are seeking policy changes to ICE and Border Patrol as part of the negotiations, while Republicans have criticized the demands as political posturing. Lawmakers will also speak with Jeffrey Epstein's main associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, and receive the full, unredacted Epstein Files from the Department of Justice.

Why it matters

The funding fight over DHS highlights the ongoing partisan divide in Congress, with Democrats looking to rein in immigration enforcement agencies and Republicans opposing such efforts. The Epstein investigation also continues to uncover new information about the disgraced financier's alleged sex trafficking network.

The details

Congressional Democrats are seeking policy changes to ICE and Border Patrol as part of the DHS funding negotiations, including requiring agents to stop wearing masks, obtain judicial warrants to enter private property, and end roving patrols. Republicans have criticized these demands as political posturing, with Alabama Senator Katie Britt, a lead negotiator, saying now is not the time for such actions. If DHS funding lapses, agencies like the Coast Guard, TSA, and FEMA would be affected, though ICE and Border Patrol have already been mostly funded through previous legislation.

  • The DHS funding is set to lapse on February 13th.
  • The House Oversight Committee is scheduled to conduct a virtual deposition with Ghislaine Maxwell on Monday.
  • The Department of Justice will make the full, unredacted Epstein Files available for members of Congress on Monday.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who signed an appropriations package into law last week that fully funded several departments through September, but only extended DHS funding through February 13th.

Katie Britt

A Republican Senator from Alabama who is a lead negotiator in the DHS funding negotiations, and has criticized Democratic demands as political posturing.

Ghislaine Maxwell

Jeffrey Epstein's main associate, who is scheduled to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee on Monday.

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What they’re saying

“Now is not the time for political posturing.”

— Katie Britt, Senator

What’s next

The judge in the DHS funding negotiations will need to decide whether to approve the Democratic policy changes to ICE and Border Patrol as part of a funding deal before the February 13th deadline.

The takeaway

The upcoming week in Washington will see Congress grapple with the high-stakes DHS funding fight, which has become entangled with broader debates over immigration enforcement, as well as the continued investigation into the Epstein sex trafficking scandal.