Kirk was an activist who inspired a generation of young conservatives and helped push the nation's politics further to the right; he was killed last month during an event at a university in Utah. His politics were often divisive, and Trump has cited Kirk as a major reason he was reelected, calling Kirk a "great American hero" while speaking at his funeral in September.
The government shutdown also entered its 14th day Tuesday, with the Senate returning from its holiday break, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson refusing to call lawmakers back to Washington and Trump's budget director vowing to keep firing federal workers.
Democrats have focused on trying to keep Affordable Care Act subsidies from expiring for millions of Americans who purchase insurance on "Obamacare" exchanges. Without this federal support, costs are expected to soar across the health care economy. Johnson said he "won't negotiate" unless Democrats first agree to reopen the government, losing their leverage for any deal.