Republicans bypass Senate filibuster to advance immigration agency funding

4 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · May 1

The move came despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune resisting President Donald Trump's pressure to scrap the 60-vote rule entirely.
By using an alternative path to push money toward immigration enforcement, Republicans exposed how the filibuster's power is weakening even as party leaders publicly defend it.
The episode highlights a broader Senate trend: both parties are increasingly willing to work around the chamber's signature rule when major policy priorities are at stake.

What is the risk to the Senate's consensus-building role if procedural workarounds become the new legislative norm?

How will this procedural bypass for agency funding reshape the future of lawmaking in the U.S. Senate?

As one bill is fast-tracked, what becomes of other critical pieces of stalled national legislation?