House Republicans are expressing deep frustration after the Senate decided to postpone a vote on a sweeping immigration funding package until next month, effectively ignoring President Trump's self-imposed June 1 deadline to get the bill to his desk. The delay has exposed growing fissures within the GOP over legislative strategy and priorities.
The package, which Republicans aim to pass through budget reconciliation to avoid Democratic votes, includes a controversial $1.8 billion fund proposed by the Trump administration. Dubbed an "anti-weaponization" fund, it would compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly investigated or prosecuted under the Biden Justice Department. This provision has sparked internal GOP debate, with some senators questioning its scope and cost.
Senate Republicans also pushed back against a separate $1 billion allocation for security upgrades, including a new White House ballroom and other Secret Service needs. The Senate parliamentarian ruled against that measure, leaving lawmakers divided on how to revise or replace it. The parliamentarian's role has become a flashpoint, with Trump calling for her removal—a demand Senate Majority Leader John Thune has rejected.
The delay has particularly angered House Republicans, who accuse the Senate of moving too slowly on one of Trump's signature issues. "The Senate's demonstrated once again that they don't even know how to get their work done properly," said Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.). Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) was blunter: "It's gutless, and I'm very frustrated. They need to work. They didn't want to work."
Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.) expressed a mix of disappointment and hope. "I think June one's an important date," he said. "I'm frustrated that it's not done, but hopeful that they can finish it up when they come back." The House canceled votes on Friday, following the Senate's lead and heading into a one-week recess.
When lawmakers return next month, the workload will intensify. Republicans must juggle the immigration package with a looming deadline to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act's warrantless surveillance powers, set to expire in mid-June. The GOP races the clock on immigration as the parliamentarian strips key provisions, adding pressure to an already strained legislative calendar.
The rift between the chambers is widening. Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) called the Senate "a broken institution," arguing that the parliamentarian, an unelected official, is overruling the will of Congress. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) said the Senate must figure out "how they're going to start functioning." Some Republicans, however, are less alarmed. Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) noted, "It's a self-imposed deadline, so I'm not fussed about it," reflecting a more measured view amid the uproar.
The delay underscores the challenges of governing with a narrow majority and internal disagreements, as Republicans struggle to deliver on Trump's agenda while managing procedural hurdles. The Senate GOP's $72B immigration enforcement bill moving to the floor via reconciliation remains a key priority, but the path forward is uncertain.
