Senate Republicans start debate on ICE funding package

Politics Senate Republicans start debate on ICE funding package June 3, 20265:42 PM ET By  Barbara Sprunt Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks during a news conference following a weekly policy luncheon with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on June 02, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Thune was joined by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK), U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption toggle caption Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/Getty Images North America Senate Republicans are once again forging ahead with a reconciliation package to fund immigration enforcement agencies through fiscal year 2029. This comes after a delay in mid-May, when senators left town for a recess without passing the GOP-backed measure over concerns about the Trump administration's effort to use taxpayer dollars to compensate people who allege being targeted by the federal government. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently told members of Congress the administration has scrapped plans for the anti-weaponization fund, which appeared to ease bipartisan concerns among lawmakers. However, Trump later avoided confirming that the fund is over. Sponsor Message "The weaponization fund, as far as I'm concerned, was a beautiful thing," Trump told reporters on Wednesday in the Oval Office. Later, pressed again on whether it was dead or just on hold, Trump said: "It's... I'd have to ask the lawyers, I don't know." The Senate voted to proceed with a reconciliation package that would fund immigration enforcement agencies to the tune of $72 billion. Absent from the package is language that would have provided nearly $1 billion in funding for the Secret Service, including funds for the security of President Trump's planned ballroom. During the vote-a-rama portion of the reconciliation process, Democrats are expected to force their Republican colleagues to take a series...