Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund Sparks Internal GOP Strife; ICE Funding Bill Advances in Senate

(Central News Agency, Washington, D.C., comprehensive foreign report) U.S. Republican senators were locked in a tug-of-war on Thursday over the fate of the Trump administration's shelved $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund, narrowly defeating a Democratic attempt to permanently kill the fund and a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill.

According to Reuters, lawmakers began voting on amendments to the immigration bill in a 'vote-a-rama' procedure, with a final vote on the main bill expected later. The $70 billion bill would fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol through fiscal year 2029.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer initially filed a motion to kill the fund, which Democrats have called a 'slush fund' for Trump's allies. The session was stalled for hours, primarily over procedural issues, after Republican Senator Susan Collins supported the motion.

Collins' fellow Republicans, Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan, later joined in support.

Speaking on the Senate floor about the fund, Schumer said, 'This is egregious. It will not go away unless we legislate to permanently prohibit it.'

The Senate voted 50-49 to reject his motion, but the vote exposed political turmoil within the Senate Republican caucus, with some members seeking to offer their own amendments to permanently eliminate the fund just five months before the November midterm elections.

Collins, Husted, and Sullivan all face tough re-election battles, and Trump's approval rating is declining even among Republicans.

Critics argue the fund would allow Trump to use taxpayer money to compensate his political allies. The fund has already been shelved by the White House and the Justice Department due to strong opposition from Republican senators.

However, Trump did not explicitly state whether the fund had been effectively abolished when speaking to the press on Thursday, only saying, 'I like it very much. I think it's very important.'

A series of recent moves by Trump has drawn public criticism from some of his fellow Republicans, including seeking $1 billion in taxpayer funds for White House banquet hall and security upgrades, nominating former personal attorney Todd Blanche as Attorney General, and appointing political ally Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence.

Democrats hope to weaken the Republican Party's midterm election prospects in November through legislative offensives. Democrats are favored to retake control of the House of Representatives and have an opportunity to compete for a Senate majority. (Translation: Lu Yingzi) 1150605