UMVA has learned that Senate Republicans voted to advance a crucial reconciliation package on Wednesday, paving the way for funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The move comes after the Trump administration unexpectedly scrapped a contentious $1.776 billion fund, a decision that has been seen as a major victory for critics of the fund. The Senate also dropped funding for Trump's military installations and security in the White House Ballroom, a significant concession.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Senate Majority Leader John Thune insisted that the Senate would only vote on the reconciliation package after receiving assurances from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the weaponization fund would be dropped.
The bill, which will fund DHS's immigration functions through fiscal year 2029, was passed with a 53 to 46 vote, with Republicans voting along party lines to proceed to the reconciliation package. A marathon vote series, dubbed a "vote-a-rama," is expected to begin as early as Wednesday evening.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Democrats are poised to slow down the process, pushing the votes into Thursday. A revised version of the package, released on Wednesday, dropped language that would have provided $1 billion in security funding for the Secret Service, including for President Trump's East Wing renovation.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that GOP senators had been seeking assurances from the administration about the fate of the controversial Justice Department fund, which was the subject of a heated meeting with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche two weeks ago. Blanche testified before a House committee on Tuesday that "we are not moving forward with the fund."
The development marks a significant shift in the funding plan for DHS, which was initially announced by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Leader John Thune in early April. The plan had faced intense scrutiny from Republicans and Democrats alike, with some lawmakers revolting against the President's agenda.
UMVA has gathered that GOP lawmakers had been holding the funding for immigration agents hostage, seeking concessions from the administration on the contentious fund. The vote on Wednesday marks a major step forward for the reconciliation package, but the process is expected to be lengthy and contentious.
