Senate Republicans block a $72B ICE reconciliation bill over an Anti-Weaponization Fund

Senate Majority Leader John Thune pulled a floor vote on a $72 billion budget reconciliation bill funding ICE and CBP through 2029 on May 21, 2026, after a Republican conference meeting with Acting AG Todd Blanche collapsed into open revolt. About 25 senators spoke against the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund — drawn from the Treasury Judgment Fund to settle Trump's IRS lawsuit — with Senators Collins, Tillis, and Paul publicly threatening to vote no. Thune lacked 51 votes for reconciliation passage and adjourned the Senate for Memorial Day recess, missing Trump's June 1 deadline.