Congress returns to battles over DHS, expelling lawmakers and the Iran war

CongressCongress returns to battles over DHS, expelling lawmakers and the Iran warIt's another busy week on Capitol Hill, with the House and Senate returning to Washington after a two-week recess and facing a growing to-do list.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00House and Senate Republicans clashed bitterly over the path forward before the Easter break.J. David Ake / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 13, 2026, 1:03 PM EDT / Updated April 13, 2026, 1:08 PM EDTBy Sahil Kapur and Scott WongWASHINGTON — After a two-week recess, Congress returns Monday to a growing agenda.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.It needs to fund the still-shuttered Department of Homeland Security, for which Republicans want to pass a separate, party-line bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol. And there's a push in the House to expel up to four members, including Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, who ended his campaign for governor of California over the weekend after multiple women accused him of sexual assault and misconduct. Swalwell has said the sexual assault allegations are "false" and apologized for "mistakes in judgment."Add NBC News to GoogleMore members of Congress call on Rep. Eric Swalwell to resign, drop of out California governor race02:08There will also be a debate about President Donald Trump's ongoing war in Iran, which faces an uncertain future as he says he's deploying U.S. assets to the region to challenge Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil flow.DHS funding, a GOP-only ICE bill and FISAThe Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for a record 58 days, though Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at paying all employees.Democrats will not vote for funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection without substantial reforms to immigration enforcement. So, Republicans plan to go it alone. It hasn't been easy.House and Senate Rep...