It coincides with the Biden administration’s plans to accelerate the reopening of federal agencies, which Axios reported Sunday.
What they're saying: Capitol physician Brian P. Monahan cited new metrics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for determining when COVID restrictions should be implemented.
"The Washington DC region is now in the 'green level' or low level in this new CDC schema allowing for reduction in coronavirus prevention measures such as coronavirus testing frequency and indoor mask wear," Monahan said in an update to staff.
According to Monahan, the Capitol testing center's test positive rate has dropped to a 7-day average of 2.7%, down from 13% at the start of the year.
Anyone working in the Capitol "may choose to mask at any time, but it is no longer a requirement," Monahan wrote.
But, but, but: Those who test positive for coronavirus, or are exposed or exhibit symptoms, are still being advised to wear N95 or KN95 masks.
"COVID19 layered protection measures such as vaccination emphasis, and daily home health screening inventory prior to coming to work should continue," Monahan wrote.
Quarantine and isolation policies also remain unchanged.
Driving the news: The new rules extend to President Biden's State of the Union address on Tuesday.
"KN95 or N95 mask wear is no longer required and mask wear is now an individual choice option," Monahan said, reversing previous guidance requiring masks.
House progressives see a route to expanding their power over the next year, even though they're being accused of dragging down other Democrats by pushing the party's image too far left, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: If Democrats lose their majority in the midterms, a strengthened left could emerge more influential in a diluted, disillusioned Democratic Party.
Judge Thomas R. Griffith, a retired Bush appointee to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, endorsed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court in a letter written to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Axios has learned.
Reported Russian spending on its influence efforts in the United States skyrocketed during the years before its invasion of Ukraine last week, records show.
Why it matters: The numbers show the growth and scale of a lobbying-and-propaganda apparatus now crumbling under the weight of U.S. sanctions and intense internal pressure to punish Russian aggression.
The United Nations Security Council on Sunday voted to convene a special session of the UN General Assembly on Monday to debate Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Why it matters: This will only be the 11th time since 1950 that the General Assembly convened such an emergency session.
Truth Social, Donald Trump's new social network, has verified an account for Nick Fuentes, who has been labeled a "white supremacist" in Justice Department filings, according to screenshots of the account shared with Axios.
Why it matters: The Trump-backed network is welcoming a figure barred by mainstream social media and shunned by some other conservative platforms, including Gettr, the app from former Trump aide Jason Miller.
The Biden administration plans to accelerate the return of the federal workforce this week, as the White House seeks to show the country that in-person work can be safe, people familiar with the plans tell Axios.
Why it matters: President Biden wants to lead by example in arguing that most Americans can safely return to the workplace. Biden's team is discussing the best way to send a clear back-to-work signal to America — perhaps in the State of the Union address on Tuesday, but probably in a separate COVID speech later in March.
The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations hinted Sunday that Russia could face accusations of war crimes before The Hague, where trials for the International Criminal Court are held.
What she's saying: "I think everything is on the table as we move forward," Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CNN's "State of the Union" when asked if Russia could sit before the War Crimes Tribunals in the future.
U.S. Capitol Police will place a fence around the Capitol building ahead of a possible demonstration that could aim to disrupt Tuesday's State of the Union address, the agency said in a statement Sunday.
Why it matters: The Capitol has had several major security incidents recently, including the Jan. 6 riot in 2021, and officials are now on high alert in the face of potential threats, Axios' Andrew Solender writes.
The European Union, U.S. and other Western nations on Saturday announced they would cut off a "certain number of Russian banks" from the SWIFT international payments system and impose restrictions on Russia’s Central Bank.
Why it matters: The measures will effectively cut Russia out of the world's most important financial messaging system and undermine the Kremlin's ability to use its central bank reserves to blunt the impact of other sanctions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday rejected the Kremlin's offer of negotiations in Belarus due to the neighboring country not being neutral territory.
Driving the news: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the "Russian delegation is ready for talks, and we are now waiting for the Ukrainians" in the Belarusian city of Homel, per AP.Zelensky said in a video address that he's open to talks, but not in Belarus.
