News To Know: Partial Government Shutdown Ends, U.S. Forces Shoot Down Iranian Drone, Artemis II Launch Window Delayed & More

Partial Government Shutdown Ends — Another Could Be Ahead

President Trump signed a $1.2 trillion spending package Tuesday, ending a partial government shutdown. The legislation funds most federal agencies for the fiscal year but extends DHS funding by only 10 days as lawmakers negotiate immigration policy. Without a deal, DHS funding could lapse again, triggering another partial shutdown — though immigration enforcement would continue using prior funding.

Learn More:  

• Trump signs funding bill to end shutdown after package clears House (CBS News) 
• Standoff over ICE tactics could trigger another partial government shutdown (Washington Post) 

U.S. Forces Shoot Down Iranian Drone

U.S. Central Command confirmed that U.S. forces shot down an Iranian drone Tuesday after it “aggressively” approached a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in international waters, about 500 miles off Iran’s coast. The incident comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and the Iranian government. Diplomatic talks are expected Friday.

Learn More: 

• Satellite imagery shows where the U.S. military is positioned near Iran (Washington Post) 
• U.S. shoots down Iranian Shahed-139 drone that approached USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, military says (CBS News) 

NASA Delays Artemis II Launch Window

NASA pushed back the Artemis II launch window by one month after a wet dress rehearsal Monday revealed a hydrogen leak, shifting the earliest possible launch to March. Artemis I successfully flew an uncrewed spacecraft around the Moon in 2022, while Artemis II aims to send astronauts on a similar lunar orbit as NASA works toward returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo.

Learn More: 

• Read more on Artemis from NASA 
• NASA delays the launch of Artemis II lunar mission by at least a month (NPR) 
• NASA had 3 years to fix fuel leaks on its Artemis moon rocket. Why are they still happening? (Space.com) 

National Guard Member Shot in D.C. Issues First Statement; Suspect Arraigned

With help from his mother, National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe issued his first statement Tuesday after suffering a gunshot wound to the head while on patrol in Washington, D.C., in November. Wolfe is scheduled for skull reconstruction surgery in March. The attack killed fellow guardsman Sarah Beckstrom. The accused gunman pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.

Learn More: 

• Mother of Andrew Wolfe provides update on his progress after November D.C. attack (WCHSTV) 
• National Guard shooting suspect pleads not guilty (KRCRTV)