Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Tuesday he is "hopeful" that Republicans have enough votes to advance a $72 billion budget reconciliation bill on the Senate floor Wednesday. The legislation would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations through 2029, setting up what Thune described as a potential marathon series of amendment votes lasting into Thursday morning.
The measure stalled earlier this year amid Republican divisions over a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund that would have compensated individuals who claimed they were unjustly prosecuted by the Biden-era Justice Department. President Trump had initially set a June 1 deadline to pass the package, but opposition from within his own party forced Thune to delay consideration until after Memorial Day recess.
Thune said the preferred approach is to begin vote-a-rama on amendments Wednesday evening, putting senators on track to pass the legislation sometime early Thursday morning if Republicans hold together.
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Democrats have largely opposed the reconciliation package, arguing that $72 billion in immigration enforcement funding represents a misallocation of federal resources at a time when other domestic priorities face budget constraints. The party has not offered public quotes on Tuesday's developments as of deadline.
Progressive groups have argued that increased ICE and Border Patrol funding does not address root causes of migration and instead funnels money into an agency critics say lacks sufficient oversight mechanisms. Democrats have also raised concerns about the reconciliation process itself, which allows legislation to pass with a simple majority rather than the 60-vote threshold typically required in the Senate.
The anti-weaponization fund proposal drew particular scrutiny from Democrats, who argued that establishing such a compensation mechanism could set a costly precedent and potentially reward individuals whose prosecutions were legitimately pursued under existing law.
What the Right Is Saying
Senate Republicans have framed the reconciliation bill as essential to fulfilling campaign promises on border security. Thune's office emphasized that the legislation represents a direct response to voter priorities identified during the 2024 election cycle.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has announced plans to offer an amendment explicitly prohibiting the Trump administration from establishing the anti-weaponization fund, despite assurances from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the White House will drop the proposal and not pursue it again. Republican aides indicated they believe Blanche's testimony should render Tillis's amendment unnecessary.
Thune told reporters Tuesday that he believes Republicans have navigated their internal differences over the compensation fund issue. "We're hopeful," the majority leader said when asked about the vote count heading into Wednesday's expected floor action.
Conservative commentators have urged rank-and-file Republicans to support moving the bill forward, arguing that border security funding represents a core party principle and that further delays could undermine GOP credibility with voters who prioritized immigration enforcement during recent elections.
What the Numbers Show
The reconciliation package totals approximately $72 billion over multiple fiscal years. By comparison, current annual funding for ICE and Border Patrol combined is roughly $20 billion per year, meaning the proposed legislation represents a significant multi-year commitment to federal immigration enforcement agencies.
The controversial anti-weaponization fund was valued at $1.8 billion under the original proposal. Acting AG Blanche told House lawmakers Tuesday that the administration would abandon the fund entirely following bipartisan criticism in the Senate, though no formal withdrawal of the proposal has been filed with congressional committees.
Trump's initial June 1 deadline for passage came and went without floor action, marking one of several instances where White House legislative timelines have shifted due to Republican caucus negotiations. The Memorial Day recess provided three weeks during which Thune worked to secure unified Republican support for advancing the measure.
Senate Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, meaning they can afford only limited defections if Democrats remain united in opposition. Reconciliation bills cannot be filibustered under current Senate rules but still require a simple majority to pass.
The Bottom Line
Wednesday's expected floor action represents a critical test of Republican unity on a high-profile spending measure. Thune has signaled confidence, but Tillis's planned amendment could complicate passage if it attracts unexpected support and forces changes that complicate House consideration.
The outcome will determine whether Congress can advance a major immigration enforcement funding package before the current fiscal year ends September 30. If Republicans succeed in passing the bill this week, attention will shift to the House, where leadership has indicated willingness to take up the Senate version rather than negotiate separate legislation.
What to watch: Whether Tillis proceeds with his amendment despite Blanche's assurances, how many Republican senators ultimately vote against advancing the package if any, and whether House conservatives raise objections that could send the bill back to conference committee. The White House has not formally weighed in on Tuesday's developments but is expected to engage with wavering Republicans as floor proceedings begin.