Congress departed Washington for the Memorial Day weekend without passing a budget reconciliation bill that includes funding for expanded immigration enforcement and a controversial Justice Department compensation fund. House and Senate leaders failed to resolve Republican divisions over the $1.8 billion anti-weaponization provision.
The reconciliation package was a centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s second-term legislative agenda. It would allocate billions for ICE operations, border security and deportation infrastructure. However, several Republican senators objected to the compensation fund for individuals prosecuted under the Biden administration.
House Speaker Mike Johnson did not schedule a final vote before the recess. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said negotiations would continue when lawmakers return in early June. Democrats uniformly opposed the bill, leaving Republicans to resolve internal disagreements alone.
The delay also postponed action on an Iran war powers resolution that GOP leaders pushed to June. Fiscal conservatives warned the package adds to the deficit without sufficient offsets. The White House said it remains confident the bill will pass but acknowledged that modifications to the DOJ fund may be necessary to secure enough Republican votes.
The reconciliation bill was intended to pass through a process that requires only a simple Senate majority. Fiscal conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus have also raised concerns about the package’s cost and the lack of spending offsets for the immigration and DOJ provisions.
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Sources:
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5890579-live-updates-donald-trump-reconciliation-administration-compensation-fund/