GOP Strips Ballroom, DOJ Funds From Advancing ICE, CBP Bill (1)

Senate Republicans are pressing ahead Wednesday with a $69.5 billion bill to fund the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda, while scrapping money for the Secret Service and Justice Department that held it up.

The Senate Judiciary Committee released updated text Wednesday that drops money for security components of President Donald Trump’s proposed White House ballroom and for DOJ, which became enmeshed in concerns about a $1.8 billion settlement fund for victims of allegedly politically motivated government prosecution.

Republicans’ decision to strip $1.5 billion for DOJ in the new text could make it more challenging for Democratic efforts to force votes targeting Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund.” Without the DOJ money, Democratic amendments on the settlement fund could be subject to a 60-vote threshold for adoption rather than a simple majority.

The entire updated package, which includes separate text from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, provides $38.5 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $26 billion for Customs and Border Protection intended to fund both agencies for the rest of Trump’s term after their annual spending lapsed in February. It also provides $5 billion for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s office to assist border support.

Senators are expected to take a procedural vote on the entire package Wednesday afternoon, teeing off hours of debate that would end in a vote-a-rama of amendments on the key Republican priority.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s (R-S.D.) plans to kick off voting on the package signals leaders believe they have the votes to move forward, even if some GOP swing votes join with Democrats to oppose it.

Republicans are advancing the bill under budget reconciliation, a process that requires them to get only a simple majority in the Senate to send the bill to the House.