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Why this matters:

• The entire department has been shut down since mid-February as Democrats have demanded policy changes in the wake of fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents. The Senate adopted the final resolution 50-48 just past 3:30 a.m. 
  
  

• Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other GOP leaders say they hope to keep the bill narrowly focused on ICE and Border Patrol and get it to Trump’s desk in the coming weeks, but potential roadblocks for the bill in the House remain. House Speaker Mike Johnson has still not said when the House will take up the Senate’s legislation that would fund the rest of the department. And it is unclear if members of his GOP conference will unite behind the narrowed budget bill as some House Republicans have argued that they should add other priorities to the legislation.

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• Houston changes ordinance limiting cooperation with ICE after pressure from governor 
  
  
• New York Times says FBI investigated reporter after article about director Kash Patel’s girlfriend
   
• Trump administration flies 10-year-old back from Cuba amid custody fight involving gender identity 
  
  
• US health officials nix publication of a study on COVID vaccine effectiveness 
  
  
• Vaccines, budget cuts and affordability: Takeaways from RFK Jr.’s gauntlet of congressional hearings
  
  
• California’s woes at the center of debate among leading candidates for governor 
  
  
• Justice Department reaches $1.25 million settlement with Trump 2016 campaign aide over Russia probe 
  
  
• DeSantis signs Florida law banning local DEI funding, says white men are ‘disfavored’ 
  
  
• Photos of a media tour of the Kennedy Center ahead of renovations

POLITICS

Navy Secretary John Phelan is leaving in latest departure of a top defense leader

No reason was given for the unexpected departure of the Navy’s top civilian official, announced abruptly by the Pentagon Wednesday as the Navy has imposed a blockade of Iranian ports and is targeting ships linked to Tehran around the world during a tenuous ceasefire in the war. Read more.

Why this matters:

• Phelan is the first head of a military service to depart during President Donald Trump’s second term but just the latest top defense leader to step down or be ousted. This comes just weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired the Army’s top uniformed officer, Gen. Randy George. Hegseth also has fired several other top generals, admirals and defense leaders since taking office last year.

   

• Phelan is leaving during a busy time for the Navy. It has three aircraft carriers deployed in or heading to the Middle East. The Navy also has maintained a heavy presence in the Caribbean, where it has been part of a campaign of strikes against alleged drug boats. It also played a major role in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

• More confusion in the Strait of Hormuz
  
  
• How Wall Street is setting records even with the Iran war still going on 
  
  
• Airline company Lufthansa cuts 20,000 flights as war squeezes fuel prices and supplies

US NEWS

It’s suddenly much easier for Americans to get Canadian citizenship

Under a new law which took effect in December, Canada opened up citizenship to anyone who could prove they have a direct Canadian ancestor — a grandparent, great-grandparent or even more distant ancestor. Previously, Canadian citizenship by descent could only be passed down to one generation, from a parent to a child. Read more.

Why this matters:

• According to immigration attorney Amandeep Hayer there are millions of Americans who are Canadian descendants. Since the new law took effect, immigration lawyers in the United States and Canada say they have been overwhelmed by clients seeking help submitting proof of citizenship applications. American applicants have different motivations, but many say President Donald Trump’s efforts on immigration and other topics have led them to seek dual citizenship.