Friday, May 22Friday, May 22The U.S. Senate has abandoned a $70 billion funding bill for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol after Republican lawmakers revolted over two provisions tied to former President Donald Trump: a $1 billion allocation for security measures at Trump’s White House ballroom and a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund." The bill, initially set to pass by a 1 June deadline, was derailed as senators left Washington for the Memorial Day recess without voting, citing internal GOP divisions and concerns over voter backlash .
Republican senators, including Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), criticized the anti-weaponization fund as a "galactic blunder," with some questioning its necessity. The fund, intended for alleged victims of "lawfare," was described as a last-minute addition that disrupted negotiations. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who recently lost his primary in Trump’s "revenge tour," stated, *"I’m not sure the fund should exist"* . The White House ballroom security funding also faced bipartisan opposition, with top Republicans fearing it would alienate voters ahead of midterms .
Trump defended the ballroom expenditure as a *"very good expenditure"* but later claimed he *"didn’t need the money,"* despite his administration’s push for the funding. Senate Republicans are now expected to strip the $1 billion allocation from the bill, signaling a rare public rift between Trump and GOP lawmakers . Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, criticized the GOP’s handling of the bill, calling it a *"broken promise"* and accusing Republicans of internal infighting . The impasse leaves ICE and border patrol funding in limbo, with no clear path forward before the recess.
> Background: **Senate Republicans drop ICE funding bill over Trump-linked provisions.** — *10 hours ago*
Trump news at a glance: Republicans find their red line against their president: taxpayer money for his ballroom Senate will not pass $70bn homeland security bill that includes $1bn for security measures for controversial project – key US politics stories from Thursday, 21 MayA bid to restore funding to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol has been derailed by rows over a $1bn proposal for security measures tied to Donald Trumps White House ballroom and controversial plans to create a $1.8bn anti-weaponization fund.The US Senate will not pass the $70bn legislation ahead of a 1 June deadline set by the US president, Republican senators told reporters on Thursday, as lawmakers leave Washington for the Memorial Day recess. Continue reading...
theguardian · about 16 hours ago
US Senate pushes back against Trumps $1.8bn anti-weaponisation fund The Senate delayed a vote on immigration enforcement funds in a rare show of dissent ahead of its Memorial Day recess.
aljazeera · about 18 hours ago
Republicans push back on Trumps anti-weaponisation fund Senators postpone vote on bill because of concern over the $1.8bn earmarked for alleged victims of lawfare
financial times · about 22 hours ago
US Senate wont take up ICE funding bill amid row over Trumps ballroom, which president defends as very good expenditure – live President claims I dont need money for the ballroom as Senate Republicans move to ditch $1bn funding plan amid fears of alienating votersSign up for the Breaking News US emailSenate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats spoke held a news conference, ahead of the vote-a-rama Thursday morning.The Republican agenda is one big broken promise, said Schumer, criticizing the Republican budget bill. We still havent seen the bill, because they are fighting with each other.Trump v Cook: Donald Trumps case for firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, as he continues to exert greater control over the US central bank.Trump v Slaughter: A case which examines the legality of Trumps firing of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) member, Rebecca Slaughter.Trump v Barbara: In which the court will decide if the administrations attempts to restrict birthright citizenship are unconstitutional. Continue reading...
theguardian · 1 day ago
US Senate refuses to push through ICE funding amid row over Trumps ballroom Senate will not pass the $70bn legislation ahead of a 1 June deadline set by Trump ahead of the Memorial Day recessA bid to restore funding to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol has been derailed by rows over a $1bn proposal for security measures tied to Donald Trumps White House ballroom and controversial plans to create a $1.8bn anti-weaponization fund.The US Senate will not pass the $70bn legislation ahead of a 1 June deadline set by the US president, Republican senators told reporters on Thursday, as lawmakers leave Washington for the Memorial Day recess. Continue reading...
theguardian · 1 day ago
Trumps anti-weaponization fund torpedoes ICE funding deal $72 billion in funding for ICE and Border Patrol is now in limbo after GOP senators revolted against President Trumps $1.776B anti-weaponization fund on Thursday.Why it matters: The fund was dropped like a bomb in the middle of a pretty well planned out reconciliation bill, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters.The package for ICE and Border Patrol funding was on track to pass by the weekend.But senators left town without voting on Thursday after a heated two-hour meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.Somebody described it as a galactic blunder, and I think thats probably true, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) told CNN.The bottom line: Im not sure the fund should exist, said Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost his Louisiana GOP primary on Saturday as part of Trumps revenge tour.
axios · 1 day ago
Controversy over Trump ballroom and $1.8B slush fund sends Senate running for the hills Republicans leave town with no legislative text or plan for reconciliation bill to fund Trumps deportation plans or ballroom dream
independent · 1 day ago
Trump says he doesnt know if hes losing control of the Senate after pushback over $1B for ballroom security Senators are poised to strip out his requested $1 billion for the White House ballroom from a border security funding bill
independent · 1 day ago
Senate Republicans expected to ditch $1bn funding plan for Trumps ballroom Top Republicans fear diverting taxpayer dollars toward the White House ballroom will alienate voters before midtermsSenate Republican leaders are expected to ditch a $1bn proposal for security measures tied to Donald Trumps White House ballroom following a backlash from members of their own party.Under pressure from Trump, top Republican lawmakers tried to latch the proposal on to a roughly $70bn bill to restore funding to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the border patrol. Continue reading...
theguardian · 1 day ago
Trump moves to slash Biden-era climate rules in attempt to bring grocery prices down The Trump administration is poised to relax a federal regulation requiring grocery stores and air-conditioning companies to curb greenhouse gas emissions from cooling equipment, a move officials claim will reduce grocery costs for American families.
independent · 1 day ago
Senators seek to curb US Treasurys ability to fund foreign allies Bipartisan bill aims to restrict Scott Bessents use of $219bn Exchange Stabilization Fund
financial times · 1 day ago