- The Senate officially rejected two significant funding priorities proposed by President Donald Trump for the upcoming budget reconciliation bill.
- These rejected items included $1 billion for a White House ballroom and a controversial $1.776 billion “weaponization fund.”
- The “weaponization fund” was widely criticized by some Senate Republicans as a “slush fund” intended to provide payouts to individuals prosecuted by the Department of Justice, including those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.
- The rejection followed substantial opposition within the Senate, including an “explosive showdown” with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and strong criticism from figures like Mitch McConnell.
- With these contentious items removed, the path is clearer for the $72 billion package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through 2029, though some senators still seek further legislative restrictions.
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