Senate Republicans unveil $72 billion immigration plan, $1 billion for White House East Wing
Senate Republicans proposed a $72 billion spending plan, with $1 billion dedicated to Secret Service security upgrades to help build the East Wing ballroom.
Senate Republicans proposed a $72 billion spending plan, with $1 billion dedicated to Secret Service security upgrades to help build the East Wing ballroom.
Senate Republicans proposed a $72 billion spending plan, with $1 billion dedicated to Secret Service security upgrades to help build the East Wing ballroom.
Senate Republicans introduced a $72 billion spending proposal to fund immigration agencies, border security, and law enforcement initiatives, with plans to bring it to a vote before President Donald Trump's June 1 deadline.
The bills, from the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, outline specific allocations, including:
- $38.2 billion for ICE operations
- $26 billion for offices under Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- $5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- $1.5 billion for the Justice Department.
The bills direct ICE to use the funds for hiring, paying, and training agents, as well as other immigration enforcement measures.
$3.5 billion is allocated for border security technology and screening, with further funding provided for FBI and DEA operations.
Another $1 billion is for Secret Service security upgrades, including "above- and below-ground measures" for President Trump's East Wing Modernization Project, which includes the President's plans for a ballroom. However, the legislation specifies that the funds cannot be used for "non-security elements," despite the project including the new ballroom.
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, the second-highest lawmaker of the Senate Budget Committee, criticized the proposal.
"Republicans are ignoring the needs of middle-class America and instead funneling money into Trump's ballroom and throwing billions at two lawless agencies," a statement from Merkley read. "Senate Democrats are prepared to review this bill line by line and vigorously challenge any provision that violates the Byrd Rule."
But Republicans like Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, defended the plan, stating the funding was necessary "to help law enforcement and maintain safer streets for American families."
Republicans plan to use the reconciliation process to pass the proposal, requiring only a simple majority vote to bypass Democratic opposition. If approved, the funding would support agencies through 2029.
The White House applauded the Republican proposal.
"Congress has rightly recognized the need for these funds. Due in part to the recent assassination attempt on President Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner," White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in part in a statement. "As President Trump has repeatedly said, the White House must be a safe and secure complex that generations of future presidents and visitors to the People’s house can enjoy."
Watch more on Senate Republicans' reconciliation plan:
