Senate Republicans Jeopardize $70 Billion Immigration Bill as Trump Pushes $1.8 Billion DOJ Fund
Updated
Updated · fedagent.com · May 28
Senate Republicans Jeopardize $70 Billion Immigration Bill as Trump Pushes $1.8 Billion DOJ Fund
6 articles · Updated · fedagent.com · May 28
$70 billion in immigration enforcement funding through 2029 is now in doubt after Senate Republicans balked at adding a $1.8 billion DOJ “anti-weaponization” fund to the reconciliation package.
The dispute blew up plans to move the bill before Memorial Day, effectively killing President Trump’s self-imposed June 1 deadline for passage.
The DOJ fund stems from a settlement in Trump’s lawsuit over leaked IRS tax returns and would compensate people claiming politically motivated investigations, raising GOP fears it could benefit some January 6 rioters.
Mitch McConnell called the proposal a “slush fund” to pay people who assaulted police after a tense lunch with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, while Democrats said they would try to curb the fund through amendments.
John Cornyn’s 27-point primary loss to Trump-backed Ken Paxton has added pressure on Senate Republicans, with strategists saying it strengthens Trump’s leverage over this bill and other priorities.
What constitutional questions are raised by a settlement that creates a fund and bars future IRS audits?
With the DOJ fund now frozen by a court, what legal hurdles must it overcome to become operational?