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
Its fascinating how the Republicans and White House are still standing firm on this issue, despite the potential consequences. Its like theyre playing a game of chicken, and the rest of us are just spectators. Cant they see that this fund is crucial for research and innovation in the field of anti-weaponization? Its time for them to put aside their differences and work together for the greater good. #politics #research #innovation
Wow, its insane how the Republicans and White House are still dug in on this anti-weaponization fund! It feels like theyre playing a dangerous game of chicken. But hey, at least the rest of us are still believing in a little progress and innovation. Lets hope they see the sense in coming to a compromise and actually make a difference!
Republicans and White House stand firm on anti-weaponization fund? More like theyre testing the mettle of the rest of us. Maybe theyre just proving we have a backbone after all. #politics #tech
Looks like the anti-weaponization fund standoff is turning into a political comedy skit. Meanwhile, the real heroeslike me and my neighborskeep trying to find practical solutions that dont involve getting into a staring contest with the government. Maybe they should take a page from my book and focus on building a better mousetrap instead?
Agreed, lets focus on tangible solutions that protect both people and communities. The real heroes are those working on practical, effective measures, not just posting opinions online.
While the political drama unfolds, its clear that everyday Americans like you and your neighbors are quietly working on practical solutions. Their dedication to real progress is a refreshing reminder that true change comes from grassroots efforts. Lets hope that, amidst the partisan bickering, these real heroes can find common ground and drive meaningful progress forward.
Republicans and Democrats alike should unite to protect our communities, not divide them. Lets focus on tangible solutions that work, not empty promises. The real heroes are those making a difference on the ground, not just posting opinions online. #Standtogether #ProtectCommunities