Senate Republicans reject moves to ban Trump settlement fund during immigration bill vote-a-rama
Democrats force votes on controversial measures, including a $1.776bn fund linked to the president, as Republicans use reconciliation to bypass filibuster.
The US Senate has entered a contentious procedural battle over a $70 billion immigration-enforcement funding bill, a central policy priority for President Donald Trump. Senate Democrats have forced a series of rapid-fire votes on controversial amendments, a process dubbed a "vote-a-rama," which has highlighted deep divisions within the Republican majority and exposed vulnerabilities in the administration’s legislative strategy.
Central to the debate is a $1.776 billion "anti-weaponisation" settlement fund established through a lawsuit between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Designed to award payouts to alleged victims of politically motivated prosecution, the fund has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, with detractors characterising it as a slush fund for Trump’s allies. Several Republicans have expressed concern that the political optics of the fund could be catastrophic ahead of the November midterm elections, and the Department of Justice has reportedly distanced itself from the scheme.
Despite these internal concerns, Senate Republicans rejected two Democratic measures aimed at curtailing the fund. The first amendment sought to permanently ban the settlement, while a second, introduced by Senator Tom Tillis, proposed redirecting the allocated money to a separate anti-fraud fund within the Justice Department. Both measures were defeated, leaving the fund’s status unresolved despite the administration’s stated commitment not to revive similar mechanisms.
The procedural chaos stems from a standoff regarding funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Democrats had refused to approve further funding following the killing of two US citizens during immigration operations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With Republicans holding 53 seats, they lack the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster on standard legislation, forcing them to utilise budget reconciliation to pass the bill with a simple majority.
Prior to the voting commencing, the bill had been stalled by a Trump administration demand for $1 billion in security upgrades for his White House ballroom project. This request was dropped after the Senate parliamentarian ruled that such spending was ineligible for the reconciliation process. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged uncertainty regarding the final outcome, noting that some party members are showing a willingness to stand up to the president, while Minority Leader Chuck Schumer indicated that further amendments would target Trump’s permanent immunity from tax audits secured via the same IRS settlement.
If Senate Republicans remain unified, the funding bill is expected to pass late Thursday night or early Friday. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is anticipated to take up the legislation shortly thereafter, continuing the political pressure on the administration to deliver on its immigration enforcement agenda.
