The Beltway Buzz is a weekly update summarizing labor and employment news from inside the Beltway and clarifying how what’s happening in Washington, D.C., could impact your business.
Federal Government Mostly Funded; DHS Remains. After a brief partial shutdown, the federal government reopened for business on February 3, 2026, following passage of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that President Trump signed into law later that day. The funding package includes five underlying spending bills, which, combined with other funding bills already enacted, will fund the vast majority of the federal government through September 30, 2026. This includes funding for agencies popular here at the Buzz, such as the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). However, securing full fiscal-year funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains a challenge, as Democratic lawmakers are pushing for changes surrounding Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As part of the legislation signed into law this week, DHS will continue receiving current funding only through February 13, 2026—which doesn’t give lawmakers a lot of time to work out a long-term deal. If there is not a deal by the deadline—either a full-year funding bill or a continuing resolution—DHS will shut down.
USCIS Announces Dates for Initial H-1B Cap Registration. The initial...
San Francisco–based fashion retailer ALICE + OLIVIA has agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle allegations related to its receipt of a Paycheck Protection Program loan. According to a statement from...