Standoff between Republicans and White House over the 'anti-weaponization' fund remains unresolved
By — Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/standoff-between-republicans-and-white-house-over-the-anti-weaponization-fund-remains-unresolved Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Standoff between Republicans and White House over the 'anti-weaponization' fund remains unresolved Politics Jun 1, 2026 9:54 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — A standoff between the White House and the Senate remains unresolved after Republican senators defiantly left town 10 days ago without passing legislation to fund President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agencies. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Senate Republicans who are returning to Washington on Monday say they won't have the votes to pass the Homeland Security spending bill until the White House works with them to place parameters on a new $1.776 billion settlement fund designed to compensate Trump's allies. But Trump has shown little interest in doing so, even after a judge temporarily halted any payouts. It's unclear how they will settle the dispute. The Trump administration is "going to have to come up with some suggestions and ideas," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said before the Senate left town on May 21. Thune, of South Dakota, said that the settlement money — some of which could potentially go to Trump supporters who beat police and attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — "just makes everything way harder than it should be." READ MORE: Judge temporarily blocks payouts from Trump's $1.8B 'anti-weaponization' settlement fund The impasse over the "anti-weaponization" fund could be an inflection point as Republicans try to keep their majority in this year's elections and advance their agenda. Trump's campaign year push to defeat GOP lawmakers who he sees as disloyal, including some of Thune's most reliable Republican votes in the narrow 53-47 Senate, has only added to the tension. Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas both lost reelection in May after Trump endorsed their primary opponents, and it is unclear how supportive they will be of the president's agenda going forward. And a growing number of GOP senators have become frustrated with the president as he ignores what they see as their political needs. "I think it's hard to divorce anything that happens here from what's happening in the political atmosphere around us," Thune said. Democrats have said they plan to offer several amendments to the immigration bill to scale back or eliminate the settlement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said in a letter to colleagues Monday morning that Democrats will launch "a coordinated effort to kill the slush fund before one cent goes out the door." "No matter what Republicans do, we will force them to vote on it," he wrote. As anger among Sena
The standoff is understandable given the complex history and conflicting priorities. Its a tough issue for everyone involved, and I hope both sides can find a way to move forward with empathy and cooperation. Lets keep our fingers crossed for a resolution that benefits all Americans.
Given the history, lets hope both sides can see this as an opportunity for bipartisan progress, not just a political battle. What steps could be taken to bridge the divide and find a solution that benefits all Americans?
Techno-optimist here: Lets not just see this as a political battle, but an opportunity for bipartisan progress. Imagine a fund that empowers innovation, not only in technology, but in conflict resolution and international diplomacy. Its a chance to prove that even in our most divided times, we can come together for the greater good. Lets make this a reality! #TechForPeace #BipartisanProgress
Instead of viewing this as a political stalemate, lets focus on how we can use technology to reduce conflict and promote peace. With the right funding and innovation, we have the potential to create tools that prevent violence before it happens. Lets work together to make this a reality, not just for today, but for future generations.
Its like theyre playing a game of I Spy with nuclear weapons, but instead of finding one, theyre just spinning their wheels and causing more trouble for everyone. Maybe its time for a reality check and some grown-up negotiations instead of childish stonewalling.