{"id":2610672,"date":"2026-06-04T14:02:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-defeat-early-attempt-to-block-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T14:02:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:02:36","slug":"senate-republicans-defeat-early-attempt-to-block-trump-anti-weaponization-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-republicans-defeat-early-attempt-to-block-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Senate Republicans defeat early attempt to block Trump \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenate-republicans-defeat-early-attempt-to-block-trump-anti-weaponization-fund%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2610672&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>senate Republicans lost an amendment attempt to block the Justice Department\u2019s $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-anti-weaponization-fund-gets-cold-reception-from-gop-on-capitol-hill\/\" title=\"...&#039;s &#039;anti-weaponization&#039; fund gets cold reception from GOP on Capitol Hill\">776 billion \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund<\/a>, after three <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-group-was-behind-ads-aimed-at-suppressing-voter-turnout-potentially-swinging-senate-control\/\" title=\"Democrat Group Was Behind Ads Aimed At Suppressing Voter Turnout, Potentially Swinging ... Control\">swing-state senators<\/a> broke ranks adn opposition ran long<\/a> over the chamber vote. The measure was offered in a filibuster-skirting process to send the immigration enforcement bill back to committee with instructions to bar the fund-an approach that would have required only a simple majority.  <\/p>\n<p>Acting Attorney general Todd Blanche said the fund would no longer go forward but did not commit to it in writing, and Trump has given mixed signals as. Despite Senate Majority Leader John Thune warning against \u201ccorrosive\u201d amendments, Sens. Susan Collins, Jon Husted, and Dan Sullivan opposed their party.  <\/p>\n<p>republicans plan to try again with additional, narrower settlement-fund language as the bill advances, likely relying on a 60-vote threshold. Leadership also has options to blunt amendments later, including possibly reverting the immigration bill to its earlier text. The Senate will continue voting on other amendments related to ICE and enforcement, and if the immigration package clears Thursday, the House could act as soon as Friday.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Republicans defeated language to block the creation of the Justice Department\u2019s \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund, but not without three defections from swing-state senators and hours of suspense on the chamber floor.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Thursday vote, brought by Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY), was the first in a prolonged fight centered on the $1.776 billion settlement fund. Acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4594412\/trump-nomination-todd-blanche-attorney-general\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> assured lawmakers this week that it would <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4592077\/blanche-weaponization-fund-dead-for-good\/\">no longer move forward<\/a> following a bipartisan uproar, but he refused to commit that to writing, and President Donald Trump has since given conflicting messages on its future.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4594904\/senate-vote-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Three Republicans buck GOP as Senate defeats attempt to block Trump \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4592988\/nick-saban-warn-ncaa-race-to-bottom-spending\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Nick Saban warns that current NCAA landscape is a \u2018race to the bottom\u2019 if spending isn\u2019t reined in<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4593536\/senate-republicans-drop-trump-ballroom-security-funding\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate Republicans make it official and cut Trump ballroom funding<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Had the amendment passed, it would have jeopardized a larger bill on immigration enforcement. The vote hung open for well over three hours as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) huddled with a group of Republicans. Later, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), both of whom are opposed to the fund, could be seen consulting with the parliamentarian on their own amendment language.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Jon Husted (R-OH), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) broke with Republicans, but the defections were not enough for the amendment to pass. All three are up for reelection this cycle in battleground states.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans are using a filibuster-skirting process to pass $70 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and one of its sister agencies, but senators can propose an unlimited number of amendments before the final vote, including on unrelated or tangentially related matters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically, the Senate was voting on whether to send the enforcement bill back to committee with instructions to block the fund, a way of drafting the amendment that meant it only required a simple majority to be adopted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune urged his colleagues to oppose \u201ccorrosive\u201d amendments that undermine the underlying bill, noting that Blanche testified under oath, but there is bipartisan interest in eliminating the fund, or at least placing guardrails on it to prevent people convicted or accused of attacking Capitol police on Jan. 6, 2021, from being compensated.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rank-and-file Republicans plan to bring their own language on the settlement fund, including Cassidy and Tillis, who has vowed to oppose final passage without it. But most will be at a 60-vote threshold, giving leadership some wiggle room.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune could also neutralize any successful amendments at the end of the process with a \u201cwrap-around\u201d that reverts the immigration bill to its original text. That approach would require near-unanimity among Republicans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate will vote on amendments directly related to immigration enforcement, including one to require ICE officers to wear body cameras. Others will touch on affordability or Trump\u2019s East Wing ballroom.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4594285\/midterm-countdown-candidate-quality-election\/\"><strong>PARTY LEADERS WRESTLE WITH ANOTHER \u2018CANDIDATE QUALITY\u2019 ELECTION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans ultimately <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4593536\/senate-republicans-drop-trump-ballroom-security-funding\/\">declined to provide money<\/a> to the Secret Service for the ballroom, but Democrats hope to make it a political wedge for Republicans and use it as fodder on the campaign trail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the Senate is able to pass the immigration enforcement bill later on Thursday, the House could follow suit as soon as Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate GOP blocks DOJ anti-weaponization fund-three swing defections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2610673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26154667179131-e1780583660717.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80011,37840,57847,35272,3634],"class_list":["post-2610672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-anti-weaponization-fund","tag-government-oversight","tag-legislative-gridlock","tag-senate-republicans","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP26154667179131-e1780583660717.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610672"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610677,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610672\/revisions\/2610677"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}