politics
Senate Republicans Delay Reconciliation Vote on DHS Funding Package
Senate Republicans postponed a vote on a $72 billion reconciliation package for Department of Homeland Security immigration agencies. Opposition focused on a new Justice Department fund and security funding for White House ballroom renovations.
May 21, 1:48 PM·2m read1 source
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Senate Republicans said they will not vote on a reconciliation package to fund the Department of Homeland Security's immigration agencies on Thursday. The delay came amid opposition to the Justice Department's new "anti-weaponization" fund and security funding tied to the White House ballroom.
The $72 billion package encountered resistance after members raised concerns about $1 billion in Secret Service security funding. This includes support for the president's East Wing Modernization Project that features plans for a ballroom. 776 billion fund to compensate those who say they were unfairly targeted by the government also drew objections.
Several senators emerged from a meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche without commenting. Senators told reporters earlier that they expected the Secret Service funding to be stripped from the broader package. Republicans had been aiming to release new bill text on Wednesday, but had not done so as of Thursday afternoon.
GOP leaders had been aiming to kick off a marathon vote series on Thursday night. Senators told reporters that vote would no longer happen, and that the chamber would adjourn for the Memorial Day recess. President Trump has set a June 1 deadline to get the legislation to his desk.
Speaker Mike Johnson is planning to head to the White House to discuss the path forward, according to a source familiar with the plans. The House had been expected to remain in town on Friday to approve the package if the Senate did the same, but the upper chamber's plans changed Thursday.
Blanche met with Senate Republicans for nearly two hours, trying to get skeptical members on board with the Justice Department's new fund. The fund was established as part of a settlement of a suit by Mr. Trump against the IRS, and pro-Trump allies, including those charged for their involvement in the Jan.
6 attack on the Capitol, have said they are eager to submit claims. " GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine told CBS News as she left the meeting that she did not feel better about it. In a letter to Blanche on Wednesday, GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania expressed "urgent concern" about the anti-weaponization fund.
