Senate Republicans are in a standoff on the floor over a Democratic amendment that would effectively kill the Department of Justice's controversial $1.776 billion fund, which critics across the aisle have branded a Trump-era slush fund. The amendment, offered by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), was attached to the GOP's budget reconciliation package and has brought debate to a halt.
The proposal would instruct the Senate to send the reconciliation bill to the Judiciary Committee with orders to report it back within three days, adding language to "safeguard the Department of Justice from partisan political influence and corruption." That language is a direct attack on the fund, which has drawn sharp criticism from both parties for its potential to reward political allies and even individuals convicted of violent acts on January 6, 2021.
As the vote dragged on for more than 90 minutes, a cluster of Republican senators—including Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.) and vulnerable incumbents Jon Husted (Ohio) and Dan Sullivan (Alaska)—huddled around Sen. Bill Cassidy (La.). Cassidy, who recently lost a primary to a Trump-backed challenger, appeared to be the key holdout. Husted and Sullivan seemed to be waiting to see which way Cassidy would break before casting their own votes.
The drama underscores the deep divisions within the GOP over the fund, which was initially created to protect the department from politicization but has instead become a lightning rod. Several Republican senators, including Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Thom Tillis (N.C.), have voiced concerns, though only Collins ultimately voted for Schumer's measure. Murkowski and Tillis voted no.
If the amendment passes, it would derail the entire $70 billion budget reconciliation bill, which aims to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through 2029. The bill has already faced turbulence, as Senate moves on the $70B immigration bill after a GOP revolt over the Trump anti-weaponization fund. Thune has been pushing a $72 billion border bill amid the GOP stalemate, but the Schumer amendment has thrown a wrench into those plans.
The fund's future remains uncertain. In the House, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) has forced a vote to block the fund entirely, as Fitzpatrick forces a House vote to block Trump's $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. Meanwhile, the DOJ itself has reportedly abandoned the fund, leading Senate Democrats to push for formal elimination, as covered in Senate Democrats move to block the fund after DOJ abandons it.
After more than 90 minutes of floor time, the vote stood at 46 for and 48 against, with no resolution in sight. Thune and other GOP leaders were seen trying to persuade Cassidy to vote no, but with little apparent success. The impasse threatens to delay not only the border bill but also other legislative priorities as the Senate struggles to find a path forward.
