Senate Republicans Propose $72 Billion ICE and CBP Package With $1 Billion for White House Security
Senate Republicans have proposed a roughly $72 billion spending package that would send tens of billions of dollars to immigration enforcement, border security and law enforcement while setting aside $1 billion for Secret Service upgrades tied to President Donald Trump’s East Wing Modernization Project.
The proposal is part of a reconciliation package, meaning Republicans could move it with a simple Senate majority instead of needing 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. If approved, the funding could support key agencies through September 2029.
Roll Call reported that the combined package totals about $71.7 billion. It includes about $38.2 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more than $26 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $5 billion for other border and immigration enforcement efforts, and $1.5 billion for the Justice Department.
The most politically charged provision is $1 billion for Secret Service security upgrades connected to the East Wing project. The Washington Post reported that the legislative text says the money cannot be used for “non-security elements,” while Democrats argue the provision still benefits Trump’s planned ballroom project.
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House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro criticized the bill, saying Republicans were prioritizing immigration enforcement and the White House project instead of household costs. Sen. Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, said Democrats would review the bill and challenge provisions they believe violate the Byrd Rule.
Republicans reject the ballroom-funding criticism. A spokesperson for Sen. Chuck Grassley told The Washington Post the bill “does not fund ballroom construction” and instead funds Secret Service enhancements.
The next fight is procedural and political, whether the package survives reconciliation review and whether Republicans can keep support unified around the spending plan.
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