February 4

Rep. Loudermilk becomes 29th House Republican to announce retirement

Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) announced on Feb. 4, 2026, that he would not seek a seventh term in Congress, becoming the 29th House Republican to announce retirement or non-candidacy in the 2026 cycle. Loudermilk represented Georgia's 11th Congressional District, which Trump carried by 22 points in 2024, and chaired the House Judiciary select subcommittee investigating the original Jan. 6 committee. His retirement followed those of Earl Carter and Mike Collins, who left to run for the Senate, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned her seat in January 2026 after breaking with Trump.

Washington Post cuts 300 journalists in single-day layoffs

The Washington Post fired more than 300 journalists on Feb. 4, 2026 — roughly 38% of its 790-person newsroom and one of the largest single-day layoffs in American newspaper history. Executive editor Matt Murray eliminated entire sections including sports, books, and style, and closed most foreign bureaus. Owner Jeff Bezos, whose net worth stands near $240 billion, acquired the paper in 2013 for $250 million and chose restructuring over sustained investment as the Post reported losses of roughly $100 million in 2024. The Washington Post Guild condemned the cuts as a choice, not an inevitability, noting they disproportionately affected journalists of color.

Vance delivers post-State of the Union remarks on administration legislative priorities

Vice President JD Vance delivered remarks at a post-State of the Union event on Feb. 4, 2026, amplifying President Trump's legislative priorities from his address to a joint session of Congress. Trump's 2026 address outlined priorities including further immigration enforcement, additional federal spending reductions, and expansion of the tariff regime; Vance's follow-on remarks were directed at the administration's political base rather than the broader congressional audience needed to enact additional legislation.

Federal judge questions Trump effort to move hush money appeal to federal court

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein expressed deep skepticism on February 4 at a hearing over the Trump legal team's bid to transfer the New York state hush money appeal to federal court, noting Trump had sought two bites at the apple and waited beyond a customary 30-day window after the Supreme Court immunity ruling. The DOJ separately intervened in the case, urging the conviction be thrown out on immunity and evidentiary-preemption grounds. Trump's state-court appeal of his 34-count conviction for falsifying business records proceeded in parallel.

Good brothers testify before Congress on ICE killing of their sister

Luke Ganger and Brent Ganger testified at a Capitol Hill forum convened by Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Rep. Robert Garcia to examine DHS use-of-force after ICE agent Jonathan Ross fatally shot their sister Renée Good on January 7 in Minneapolis. Luke Ganger described trying to explain his sister's death to his 4-year-old daughter; Brent Ganger re-read his eulogy from Good's funeral. The forum was organized by Congressional Democrats as no formal Republican-chaired oversight hearing had been scheduled.

US-Iran nuclear talks shifted from Istanbul to Oman after diplomatic standoff

US-Iran nuclear talks originally scheduled for Istanbul were scrapped and relocated to Muscat, Oman, after a four-day diplomatic standoff beginning February 2, 2026. Iran demanded the meeting be bilateral and held in Oman to limit discussion to nuclear issues; the US initially rejected the request, then reversed course after at least nine regional governments lobbied the White House not to cancel. The talks ultimately proceeded in Oman on February 6 with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper representing the US.

Trump withdraws 700 ICE agents from Minnesota after fatal shootings

Border czar Tom Homan announced on February 4 that roughly 700 of the approximately 3,000 federal agents deployed to Minnesota under Operation Metro Surge would be immediately withdrawn, leaving about 2,300 agents in the state. Homan said arrests would continue but characterized the partial pullback as a de-escalation following two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens by ICE and CBP officers. The full operation was not declared over; a complete withdrawal was announced on February 12 after sustained political pressure.

Congress demands DHS inspector general probe ICE use of force

Democratic members of Congress sent an urgent letter to DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari on February 2 demanding an expedited review of ICE and CBP use-of-force policies following the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The request cited two shooting incidents within three weeks, asked for review of body camera policies, and came as multiple investigations — including DOJ, FBI, and ICE internal review — were launched in parallel. By mid-February, ICE placed two officers on administrative leave after video evidence contradicted their sworn statements.

ICE accountability fight pushes DHS toward government shutdown

Democrats in Congress refused to extend DHS funding past February 13 without accountability measures for ICE, including body camera requirements and warrant standards, in direct response to the Minneapolis killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti. A short 10-day continuing resolution passed the House on February 3 to avert an immediate lapse, but Democrats announced they would block further extensions without policy concessions. DHS funding ultimately lapsed on February 14, beginning a partial shutdown that lasted until April.

Congress restores CDC, FDA, and NIH funds cut by RFK Jr.

The bipartisan FY2026 Labor-HHS appropriations package signed by President Trump on February 3 fully funded CDC, NIH, and FDA at levels that reversed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s administrative cuts. The NIH budget was increased rather than cut, chronic disease and immunization programs at CDC were sustained, and dedicated LGBTQ+ youth services funding was restored. Senate appropriators from both parties described the bill as a rejection of HHS reorganization proposals Kennedy had advanced.

U.S. and UAE launch $700M Sudan humanitarian fund with $200M U.S. pledge

The United States and UAE jointly launched the Sudan Humanitarian Fund on February 4, 2026, with the US contributing $200 million and the UAE contributing $500 million to provide emergency relief to civilians caught in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The US convened more than 20 donor governments and raised total pledges of $1.5 billion. The US contribution was administered through OCHA and formed part of a December 2025 memorandum of understanding pledging $2 billion to UN-managed pooled funds.

House passes Critical Mineral Dominance Act, fast-tracking mining on federal lands

The House passed H.R. 4090, the Critical Mineral Dominance Act, 224-195 on February 4. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Pete Stauber, directs the Interior Department to identify priority mining projects on federal lands for immediate approval, suspend agency actions placing undue burdens on mining, and recommend changes to expand hardrock mineral production on National Forest System and Bureau of Land Management lands. Environmental groups warned the bill would circumvent NEPA review requirements for projects on public lands.

Supreme Court unanimously rejects GOP challenge to California redistricting map

The Supreme Court unanimously declined to block California's new Democratic-friendly congressional map, allowing it to be used in the 2026 midterm elections. The map was drawn under Proposition 50, passed by California voters in November 2025, and was designed to offset five Republican-leaning seats newly drawn in Texas. California Republicans, joined by the Trump administration, challenged the map arguing it was drawn to favor Hispanic voters and dilute Republican representation. The Court issued no opinion explaining its decision.