Republicans cancel votes amid fight over Trump’s ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Senate Republican leaders postponed a vote on a GOP package to fund ICE and Border Patrol until June due to objections over a controversial anti-weaponization fund included in the bill.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune cited concerns from GOP senators after a lengthy briefing with Justice Department officials, highlighting issues with both the timing and substance of the fund.
- The proposed fund, backed by the Trump administration, would allocate $1.776 billion to address alleged government "weaponization" against individuals, but faces Democratic opposition and skepticism from some Republicans.
- The immigration funding package also includes $70 billion for ICE and Border Patrol and a $1 billion request for security measures related to Trump’s White House ballroom, which is facing GOP resistance.
- With the Senate delaying the vote and Congress heading into the Memorial Day recess, the funding package will miss President Trump’s June 1 deadline, complicating efforts to finalize the bill and other pending legislation.