DHS Shutdown Looms as Senate Rejects Funding Bill

Analilia Mejia secured the Democratic nomination for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District on February 5, defeating a crowded field that included former Representative Tom Malinowski. Malinowski conceded to Mejia on February 10 after final vote tallies showed her leading by 889 votes in the special primary election.

Mejia, a progressive activist who received endorsements from Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, prevailed over 13 Democratic candidates vying for the seat. The special election was called to fill the vacancy left by former Representative Mikie Sherrill, who resigned after winning the New Jersey gubernatorial race in November 2025. Other notable candidates in the primary included Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill and former Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way.

The district, which covers parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties, has shifted toward Democrats in recent election cycles. Mejia will face Republican Joe Hathaway, the mayor of Randolph Township who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, in the special general election scheduled for April 16. Political analysts consider the seat likely to remain in Democratic control given the district's voting patterns.

The New START treaty officially expired on February 5, marking the first time since the early 1970s that the United States and Russia operate without legally binding limits on their strategic nuclear arsenals. The treaty, which capped each nation at 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles and bombers, concluded after its one-time five-year extension expired.

The State Department confirmed the treaty's expiration and stated that future arms control efforts will require participation from additional nations beyond Russia. The United States had been unable to certify Russian compliance with treaty terms since late 2024, as Russia ceased providing treaty-mandated data and notifications in February 2023 following its suspension of participation.

In September 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated Russia would continue observing the treaty's limits for up to one year past expiration if the United States made a reciprocal commitment. However, Russian officials recently stated they lack clear points of contact within the current U.S. administration to pursue such an arrangement. Arms control experts have expressed concern that the absence of verification mechanisms and limits could increase the risk of miscalculation and accelerate nuclear weapons development by both nations.