The Senate voted to advance a $70 billion budget plan to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, marking a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The impasse has been ongoing since mid-February, as Democrats demanded policy changes following fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents. The budget resolution would fund the two agencies for three years, through the remainder of President Donald Trump's term.
Budget Reconciliation Process
Republicans are employing budget reconciliation, a complex and time-consuming process, to fund the immigration enforcement agencies. This maneuver was also used to pass Trump's tax and spending cuts last year without Democratic votes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated, "We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies." The budget process requires only a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing filibuster rules that typically demand 60 votes for most bills, given Republicans hold 53 seats.
Vote-a-Rama Session
The Senate held the first series of votes through a late-night 'vote-a-rama' session, starting Wednesday evening and continuing into early Thursday morning. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the move, stating, "Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs." The final resolution was adopted 50-48 shortly after 3:30 a.m. ET.
Other Developments
- The Pentagon announced the departure of Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan, effective immediately, without explanation. He was replaced by former MAGA political candidate Hung Cao, who now serves as acting secretary. The surprise announcement drew attention to Cao's 2023 comments about "witchcraft" taking over Monterey, California.
- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones promised to appeal an injunction issued by a circuit court judge that temporarily blocks the state from certifying the results of Tuesday's redistricting referendum.
- As jet fuel prices spike amid the ongoing energy crisis sparked by Trump's war on Iran, Republican Senators Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton denounced a proposed government bailout of budget carrier Spirit Airlines.
- Representative David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia, has died at the age of 80. He is the fifth member of Congress to die in office within the last year.
