Republican Lawmakers Oppose Trump Administration Fund and Spending Proposals

Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to a $1.8 billion Justice Department compensation fund and to a proposed $1 billion allocation for security upgrades at a White House ballroom project. The fund stems from a settlement in a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against the Internal Revenue Service.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told a Senate appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday that the fund could cover payments to individuals convicted of assaulting police officers on January 6, 2021. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called the proposal "stupid on stilts" and said taxpayer dollars should not compensate people convicted of assaulting officers.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania said the fund was "bad news" and that lawmakers would seek to block it through legislation or a letter to the attorney general.

Leader John Thune said he was "not a big fan" of the fund. Republicans have also removed a $1 billion security funding request tied to the ballroom project from an immigration enforcement reconciliation bill. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said the security money was dropped because the votes were not there.

The Justice Department stated that the fund is separate from the reconciliation package and that no reconciliation funds would support it.

Voting on the immigration bill has been postponed until after the Memorial Day recess. President Donald Trump said he did not know whether he was losing control of Senate Republicans and stated he did not need funding for the ballroom project. Some Republican senators expressed disappointment over President Donald Trump's endorsement of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a primary runoff against Senator John Cornyn.