The Senate voted early Friday morning to pass a $69.5 billion budget reconciliation package to fund immigration enforcement operations through 2029, overcoming the concerns of several Republicans who were upset the bill did not include language barring the Trump administration from creating a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund to pay MAGA allies. A number of other amendments aimed at restricting the fund gained support on both sides of the aisle throughout the day Thursday, but none cleared the 60-vote threshold that most amendments required. Depending on parliamentary rulings, amendments needed either a simple majority or 60 votes to pass. Amendments that required 60 votes received up to 54 votes in favor, while measures that only required a majority stalled out at 49. The legislation passed 52-47, taking Republicans one big step closer to ensuring that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol (CBP) are funded through the end of President Donald J. Trump’s second term. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, was the only Republican to vote no.
The package now moves to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) plans to pass it next week. GOP leaders initially planned to vote Friday in order to send the measure to President Trump’s desk before the weekend. But again facing potential attendance problems, House Republicans canceled Friday votes and are now instead eying passage next week.
The Senate will next convene at 3:00 P.M. on Monday, June 8th and will take up a Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #744 Anthony W. Mattivi, of Kansas, to be United States District Judge for the District of Kansas.
Next votes in the House are expected at 6:30 P.M. on Monday, June 8th.
