Senate Republicans held the line Thursday on President Trump's controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, narrowly defeating a Democratic amendment that would have permanently barred the payouts. But the razor-thin vote revealed fractures within GOP ranks that could complicate negotiations on other Trump priorities.
The amendment from Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer failed 49-50, with three Republican senators breaking ranks. Susan Collins of Maine, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Jon Husted of Ohio all voted with Democrats to block the fund, which could issue financial settlements to people connected to the January 6 insurrection.
The three defectors share something in common: they represent states or face political peril. Collins is the only Republican senator from a state that backed Kamala Harris in 2024. Sullivan and Husted are both considered prime Democratic targets in the midterm elections. A Fox News poll released Wednesday showed Husted trailing former Senator Sherrod Brown by eight points.
Schumer had proposed inserting the blocking language into Republican-backed legislation designed to fund Trump's mass deportation campaign. The amendment vote stretched for three hours, with senators huddling on the chamber floor as the outcome remained uncertain.
The fight over the fund has created an unexpected headache for Senate Republicans trying to resolve a standoff with Democrats over immigration enforcement funding. The proposal has sparked genuine dissent within Trump's own party, complicating their ability to reach quick agreement on priorities.
Adding to the uncertainty, acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers earlier in the week that the administration would not proceed with the fund. But that assurance failed to satisfy Schumer, who insisted that Congress pass binding legislation to ensure the money could never be spent, rather than relying on administrative promises.
The issue is unlikely to disappear. Democrats signaled they will push the matter again before Congress, suggesting the $1.8 billion fund will remain a point of contention as Senate Republicans work to solidify their position on Trump's immigration agenda.
Author James Rodriguez: "The GOP narrowly survived this vote, but three of their own broke on a Trump priority, sending a clear signal that the president's post-January 6 spending plans are toxic in moderate districts."
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