Washington, D.C

Lawmakers return to DC with new shutdown deadlines looming

Published

2 years ago

January 7, 2024

Lawmakers return to DC with new shutdown deadlines looming

Congress returns to Capitol Hill on Monday with just 11 days before another government shutdown deadline, and with little movement on the key issues that have snarled budget negotiations for months.

On Friday, White House budget director Shalanda Young told reporters that she is not optimistic about the possibility of avoiding at least a partial government shutdown. A funding extension for four appropriations areas — Agriculture, Energy and Water Development; Veterans Affairs; and Housing and Urban Development — is set to run out on Jan. 19.

Of those, VA would be the least impacted, because Congress in 2022 approved advanced funding through fall 2024 for most medical and benefits operations. A few thousand employees would still be furloughed, however.

The rest of federal agency operations — including the Defense Department — will see its funding run out on Feb. 2. Without a budget deal by then, hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be furloughed, military paychecks would be delayed and countless offices would be forced to shutter until an appropriations deal is reached.

Wednesday, Jan. 10

House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — 310 Cannon
Mayorkas impeachment
The committee will discuss impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

House Natural Resources — 10:15 a.m. — 1324 Longworth
National Park Service
Park Service officials will discuss maintenance backlogs within the agency.

Thursday, Jan. 11

House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — 360 Cannon
VA rural access
Department officials will discuss outreach efforts to rural veterans.

House Oversight — 10 a.m. — 2154 Rayburn
Military ideologies
Outside experts will testify on political ideologies in the military.

House Financial Services — 10 a.m. — 2128 Rayburn
Federal Housing Administration
Department of Housing and Urban Development officials will testify on Federal Housing Administration programs.

Senate Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — 562 Dirksen
Artificial Intelligence
Homeland Security officials will discuss the use of artificial intelligence in government services.

House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Visitors Center H-210
Afghanistan
State Department officials will testify on the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

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Washington, D.C

Walk for peace that stopped in Mississippi arrives in Washington DC

Published

3 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Press Room

Walk for peace that stopped in Mississippi arrives in Washington DC

Jasper Ward
| Reuters

Draped in burnt-orange robes, two dozen Buddhist monks arrived in Washington D.C. on Tuesday on a 2,300-mile “Walk for Peace”, a self-described spiritual journey across nine states that has been cheered on by crowds of thousands.

“I feel like in our country and in our world right now that you have to show your support for peace in every possible way you can,” said Bob Anderson, 74, of Gloucester County, Virginia, during a stop by the monks in Richmond on February 3. “And so this is a great way to do so. That’s why I’m here.”

The monks began their walk in Texas more than three months ago, at times braving frigid winter temperatures, sometimes with bare feet, to raise “awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world.”

The marchers continued on despite a powerful winter storm that spread a paralyzing mix of heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain from the Ohio Valley and mid-South to New England, compounded by bitter, Arctic cold gripping much of the U.S.

Accompanied by Aloka, a rescue dog, their journey comes amid growing tension in the United States, partly spurred by President Donald Trump’s tough immigration policy that has seen National Guard troops deployed in some U.S. cities, with both American citizens and immigrants killed by federal agents.

“We walk not to protest, but to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us,” said Bhikkhu Pannakara, spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace. “The Walk for Peace is a simple yet meaningful reminder that unity and kindness begin within each of us and can radiate outward to families, communities, and society as a whole.”

They will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Washington and end their journey in nearby Annapolis, Maryland on Thursday.

Support and flowers

The walk has garnered support from millions of people on social media, with many sharing messages of support for the monks. Supporters have braved snow and rain to meet and offer flowers to the monks as they passed through their cities.

During their stop in North Carolina, the state’s governor, Josh Stein, thanked the monks for bringing hope to millions with their message of peace, equality, justice and compassion.

“You are inspiring people at a time when so many are in need of inspiration,” Stein said.

The Walk for Peace has made stops in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The monks are expected to meet with spiritual, city and other leaders when they arrive in Washington, where they will visit the National Cathedral and host a meditation retreat.

Although the walk has been positive, it has not been without obstacles. While walking through Dayton, Texas, a truck struck the monks’ escort vehicle, injuring several people, according to local media. Two monks sustained serious injuries and one had his leg amputated.

Despite the accident, the group continued to trek across the U.S. to honor not only their original message of peace but also their brothers.

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Washington, D.C

Idaho robotics team gears up for national competition in Washington D.C.

Published

15 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Press Room

Idaho robotics team gears up for national competition in Washington D.C.

The Project Impact STEM Academy robotics team, known as The Quackens, is set to represent Idaho on a national stage in Washington, D.C. The team has been selected by Gov. Brad Little to compete in the United States Governors Cup, a prestigious event that brings together elite robotics teams from all 50 states.

Team captain and programmer Kaia Peterson explained the competition’s unique challenges: “We have a playing field that we have to complete different tasks on so this year we have to shoot balls into a goal and our goal is to pick up they look like wiffle balls, there’s purple ones and there’s green ones and we call them artifacts and your goal is to pick up artifacts and shoot them into the goals. And once you shoot them into the goals they roll down into these ramps that are called classifiers and if you put the artifacts in the classifiers in a certain order, you get a motif you get pattern points, for having them in a certain order so you wanna score them in the goal but you also want to get them in the certain pattern.”

The competition will test not only their engineering skills but also their teamwork, problem-solving, and ability to strategize with alliance partners. “One of the reasons we go and talk to other teams is so we can be one of their choices for an alliance because you really wanna talk and develop those connections with teams cause you’re going to have a higher chance to be in the finals, that and having a good robot,” Peterson said.

Being chosen to represent Idaho is an honor the students are taking seriously. “Even now as we’re preparing to go to D.C we’re trying to make as many changes as we can to be better than we were at state when we go to D.C.,” Peterson added.

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However, the trip comes with significant costs, including travel, accommodations, and competition fees. The Quackens have launched a GoFundMe campaign and are only $500 away from reaching their goal to make their dream a reality. Those interested in supporting Idaho’s best and brightest can donate through their GoFundMe campaign.

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