The fight over President Trump’s immigration enforcement will take center stage this week. That’s because Republicans are desperately hoping to pass their budget reconciliation bill this week before the Memorial Day recess — and before the president’s June 1 deadline.
Quick refresher: Lawmakers have funded every part of the federal government, except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Republicans agreed to end the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown under the assumption they would fund those immigration agencies in a budget reconciliation package that only needs a simple majority to pass.
Now, Republicans are trying pass those immigration components. They’re cramming their legislative priorities into one big bill.
But there was a big holdup last week: The job of the Senate’s nonpartisan parliamentarian is to look through the budget bill and make sure each portion is actually related to the budget. Well, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that several aspects of Republicans bill *do not* comply with the rules necessary to include them in this bill package.
What was cut?: $1 billion in funding for the new White House ballroom.
To be clear, MacDonough is not saying Republicans cannot advance these proposals, just that they are ineligible to be included in this bill because of strict rules. They would instead need the usual 60 votes, which need the buy-in of multiple Democrats.
So, now what?: Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s (R-S.D.) communications director says the plan is to “Redraft. Refine. Resubmit.” Time’s ticking!
💡 Congress is running out of time to pass legislation: Once the summer hits, Congress will be focused on the midterms — leaders will want their members out campaigning as much as possible. That means less time in Washington — and that any last legislative priorities for 2026 will likely need to happen ASAP. Lawmakers are also hoping to pass the bipartisan housing affordability bill this week and possibly overhaul college athletic rules.
Read more on the ‘dealmaking mode’ as it gets closer to the summer, via Politico: ‘Republicans and Democrats are in dealmaking mode as time runs out for legislative action’
COULD THIS BE SENATE REPUBLICANS’ OUT ON THE BALLROOM DEBATE…?:
“The brewing fight is a political headache for the GOP leadership and vulnerable Republicans who will have to take tough votes on keeping any ballroom funding that survives a Byrd-Rule challenge in the budget reconciliation package,” reports The Hill’s Alexander Bolton.
“A group of Senate Republicans have privately made it clear to Thune that they don’t want to vote on providing up to $1 billion for Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom, but Thune is under pressure to deliver on one of Trump’s top priorities.”
Read more on how this could play out: ‘Senate GOP looking for off-ramp from White House ballroom debacle’
SPEAKING OF THE PRESIDENT’S WHITE HOUSE RENOVATIONS:
Trump is planning to install a helipad at the White House, so the powerful new Marine One helicopters don’t damage the South Lawn, according to The Wall Street Journal.
WHAT ELSE IS BREWING ON CAPITOL HILL?:
“Democratic lawmakers are on the verge of passing a resolution to end President Trump’s war with Iran — with some help from a steadily growing group of Republicans,” reports The Hill’s Ellen Mitchell.
Read more: ‘Democrats on the brink of war powers breakthrough’
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