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Senate Republicans abandon $70 billion ICE funding bill after Trump’s $1.8B settlement fund
Senate Republicans abandoned a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill on Thursday, May 22, 2026, after White House officials announced a $1.8 billion settlement fund for individuals the Justice Department claims were politically prosecuted. The impasse—centered on whether taxpayer dollars should fund a controversial payout—exposed deepening tensions between the GOP leadership and President Donald Trump, whose endorsement of a primary challenger to Senate Majority Leader John Thune further fractured party unity.
The delay comes as Senate Republicans left Washington abruptly on Thursday without voting on the funding bill, a move that underscores the growing divide within the party. According to a statement from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the White House’s announcement of the settlement fund “made everything way harder” and created an “untenable situation” for GOP lawmakers. Thune, who has been a vocal critic of the fund, stated in a closed-door meeting with colleagues that the proposal “fundamentally conflicts with our priorities” and risks alienating the party’s base.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has previously clashed with Trump over judicial nominations, called the settlement fund “utterly stupid” and “a slush fund to pay people who assault cops.” His remarks, delivered during a private lunch with reporters, reflected the broader GOP frustration with the White House’s lack of consultation on the issue. McConnell added that the fund’s inclusion in the immigration bill would “poison the entire legislative process,” suggesting that Republicans may instead seek to block the measure entirely.
Meanwhile, progressive Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ro Khanna are seizing on the DNC’s 2024 autopsy report—released the same day—for omitting any mention of Gaza, arguing it reflects the party’s failure to address a defining issue of the election. The 192-page report, obtained by multiple news outlets, makes no reference to the war in Gaza, despite its role in mobilizing young voters and progressive activists. Ocasio-Cortez, in a tweet, called the omission “unbelievable” and accused the DNC of “erasing the most important issue of our time.” Khanna, in a statement, argued that the report’s silence on Gaza “undermines the party’s credibility with the base that carried us to victory in 2020.”
The $1.8B Settlement Fund: A GOP Flashpoint
The Justice Department’s announcement of a $1.8 billion settlement fund for individuals it claims were politically prosecuted—including some tied to the January 6 Capitol riot—has become the latest flashpoint in the Senate’s budget battles. The fund, announced by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Wednesday, is intended to compensate individuals who the DOJ alleges were targeted for political reasons, though details on eligibility criteria remain unclear. Republicans, already frustrated by the White House’s lack of consultation, now face a dilemma: whether to include the fund in the $70 billion immigration bill or risk Trump’s wrath by excluding it.
According to a statement from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, the fund’s potential inclusion of payments to individuals accused of violence during January 6 has “outraged” many Republicans. Graham, in a floor speech on Thursday, warned that the fund could “reward rioters and criminals” and further erode public trust in law enforcement. His remarks were echoed by Sen. Josh Hawley, who called the proposal “a direct insult to the men and women of the Capitol Police who were attacked on January 6.”
The backlash is so severe that even Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton—a primary opponent of Sen. John Cornyn—has added to the GOP’s internal chaos. Paxton, who has faced multiple ethics investigations and a potential indictment from Texas authorities, is running against Cornyn in the upcoming Senate primary runoff. Trump’s endorsement of Paxton, announced on Wednesday, has complicated Cornyn’s position, forcing him to adopt a harder line on issues like immigration and law enforcement to retain Trump’s support.
What makes the fund particularly contentious is its potential to include payments to individuals accused of violence during January 6. Republicans fear the fund could reward Trump allies who clashed with law enforcement, further alienating the party’s base. The impasse has left the immigration bill—already delayed by disputes over Trump’s White House ballroom funding—in limbo. Senate Majority Whip John Thune acknowledged in a press briefing that the White House’s announcement had “made everything way harder,” while McConnell called the fund a “slush fund to pay people who assault cops.”
The Justice Department has not provided a detailed breakdown of how the $1.8 billion will be allocated, though Blanche stated in a press conference that the fund will prioritize “wrongfully prosecuted individuals” and those who faced “politically motivated charges.” The lack of transparency has fueled speculation that the fund could include payments to individuals tied to the January 6 riot, including some who have already been charged with federal crimes.
DNC’s Gaza Oversight: A Progressive Wake-Up Call
While the Senate grappled with immigration funding, the Democratic National Committee released its long-awaited 2024 autopsy report—a 192-page document that, to the shock of progressives, makes no mention of Gaza. The omission has sparked outrage from figures like Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who argue that the war in Gaza was a defining issue of the election.
“There’s not a single mention of Gaza in the 192-page DNC autopsy report that was just released today. As someone who campaigned in Michigan and Wisconsin, let me tell you: one of the reasons we lost is our blank check to Israel and Netanyahu while they committed genocide in Gaza.”
—Rep. Ro Khanna, via a tweet posted to his official account at 1:47 PM ET on May 22, 2026.
Ocasio-Cortez echoed Khanna’s frustration, calling the omission “unbelievable” and a “major oversight.” She argued in a series of tweets that the DNC’s failure to address Gaza—despite its role in mobilizing young voters—reflects a broader reluctance to confront hard truths. “The DNC’s autopsy report is a 192-page document about everything except the war that defined our generation,” she wrote. “How can we expect to win in 2028 if we can’t even acknowledge the issues that cost us in 2024?”
The report’s silence on Gaza has reignited debates about whether the Democratic Party can reclaim its progressive base ahead of the 2028 election. Sen. Bernie Sanders, in a statement, called the omission “a huge mistake” and urged the DNC to “confront the reality of U.S. policy in the Middle East.” Meanwhile, Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has been a vocal critic of U.S. support for Israel, accused the DNC of “erasing the most important issue of our time.”
The contrast between the DNC’s report and the GOP’s internal divisions over Trump’s policies underscores a broader political reality: both parties are grappling with whether to double down on their bases or pivot toward broader voter concerns. For Democrats, the Gaza issue remains a liability; for Republicans, Trump’s influence—whether on immigration funding or primary endorsements—is proving harder to contain.
Trump’s Endorsement of Paxton: A GOP Earthquake
Trump’s decision to endorse Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn in Texas’s Republican Senate primary runoff has sent shockwaves through the GOP. Cornyn, a longtime Trump ally, was seen as a safe bet for the party’s establishment wing. But Trump’s backing of Paxton—a figure associated with controversial legal battles and a history of clashes with the Justice Department—has left Cornyn’s supporters scrambling.
According to a statement from Cornyn’s campaign, the endorsement has complicated the Senate’s already tense relationship with the White House. Cornyn, in a press conference on Thursday, acknowledged that “there is a political component to everything we do around here,” suggesting that Trump’s influence is now a factor in even routine legislative matters. He added that he remains committed to working with the White House but would not “kowtow to any demands.”
The fallout from the endorsement is still unfolding, but it has already weakened Cornyn’s position. Paxton, in a campaign ad released on Wednesday, framed the race as a choice between “establishment Republicans who don’t deliver” and a candidate willing to “fight for Texas values.” The primary runoff, set for May 28, 2026, could further destabilize the Senate’s already fragile GOP majority. If Paxton wins, it would signal a shift toward a more hardline GOP, potentially emboldening Trump’s influence over legislative priorities.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a private conversation with reporters, warned that Trump’s endorsement of Paxton could “destabilize the entire Senate.” He added that the GOP’s ability to govern effectively depends on maintaining “some semblance of unity,” which is now at risk. Meanwhile, Sen. Ted Cruz, who has also faced Trump’s wrath in the past, urged Cornyn to “stand firm” and not “back down to the president’s whims.”
What Comes Next: A Senate in Limbo
The Senate’s delay on the $70 billion immigration bill is more than a procedural setback—it’s a symptom of deeper dysfunction. With Trump’s influence growing, GOP unity is fraying, and Democrats are still grappling with how to address Gaza without alienating their base.
- Texas Primary Runoff (May 28, 2026): The outcome will determine whether Cornyn survives as a Senate leader or if Paxton’s rise signals a more hardline GOP future. Polls show the race is too close to call, with Paxton gaining momentum after Trump’s endorsement.
- June 1 Deadline: Senate Republicans must decide whether to include the $1.8 billion settlement fund in the immigration bill—or risk Trump’s retaliation. Thune has indicated that the fund’s inclusion would require a “majority of the conference” to support it, which is unlikely.
- DNC Strategy Shift: The party’s failure to address Gaza in its autopsy report could force a reckoning with progressive voters ahead of 2028. Sanders and Omar have already called for a special meeting to discuss the issue.
- Immigration Bill Stalled: The $70 billion funding measure, which includes border security provisions, remains stalled as Republicans debate whether to link it to the settlement fund. A vote has been postponed until June 1, Trump’s self-imposed deadline.
The next 30 days will reveal whether the Senate can function at all under Trump’s shadow—or if the institution is now fully subservient to his political calculus. For Democrats, the Gaza omission in the DNC report may be the first of many missteps if they fail to confront the issues that defined 2024. And for Republicans, the choice between Trump’s demands and governing pragmatism has never been clearer.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The Senate’s ability to legislate—and the parties’ paths to 2028—hang in the balance.
