Trump says he's not sure if the $1.776B DOJ fund is actually scrapped.
"I'd have to ask my lawyers. I don't know. Are you talking about the weaponization fund? The weaponization fund, as far as I'm concerned, was a beautiful thing."
NEW: Trump has signed an order officially making it easier to fire 1000s of federal workers for any reason
It's been a long time coming, started during his 1st term and finally now seen through. Longstanding concerns about politicization of the non-partisan civil service remain
Senate votes 53-46 to begin debate on Republicans' nearly $70B package that will bolster funding for CBP, ICE and DHS.
Amendment debate likely to begin Thursday, followed at some point by a passage vote. After that the bill goes to the House.
Senate Judiciary Committee releases updated immigration, deportation bill text without $1 billion for Secret Service or $1.457 billion for Justice Department
https://t.co/hQ3izpXdtD
Reporters swarmed @KenPaxtonTX as he left @LeaderJohnThune's office a little while ago. He didn't respond to questions about @JohnCornyn continuing to call him unfit. I think I saw a smirk when he was asked about @jamestalarico eating BBQ yesterday but no actual comment.
Schumer said earlier Democrats will also force floor votes on whether the Trump administration can provide payments to people who believe they were wrongly prosecuted by the DOJ.
"To anyone who takes the constantly lying Todd Blanche at his word, I have a bridge to sell you."
Schumer says Democrats will offer amendments during vote-a-rama on cost of living issues, tariffs, the war in Iran, and ICE and Border Patrol's "abuses of power."
Votes could begin as soon as this evening/tonight.
@ArianaLFigueroa Blanche says the DOJ won't carry out the $1.776 billion fund ever in response to questions from Rep. Grace Meng, who is pressing him to put this in writing.
"We’re not moving forward with the fund. Period."
Thune says he spoke with the acting Attorney General earlier today and that he expects Todd Blanche to make “very definitive, very clear” statements about the $1.776B fund later today during a hearing.
News: The FY2027 CJS funding bill is on thin ice ahead of the markup Thursday.
It’s possible the bill gets pulled. Dems would likely push amendments on the “anti-weaponization” fund if the markup goes on as planned.
Collins told me there will be an announcement on markups later today
New: House Ethics is investigating Rep. Jimmy Gomez over allegations of sexual misconduct, sources
In statement, Gomez acknowledged mistakes that caused his family pain but said they had not violated the law/ethics rules
w/@PamelaBrownCNN@alligordon_
https://t.co/Ca4W7qLt2e
Tillis says there are still issues to work out on the DOJ $1.776B fund.
"To provide restitution to somebody who assaulted a police officer and pled guilty to it. I mean, man, I've seen some crazy stuff before, but that's right up there with crazy."
Thune indicating he believes Republicans should drop Justice Department funding from the reconciliation bill, saying the legislation should go back to its "original intent":
"I think the best way to get the reconciliation bill moving and across the finish line is to confine it to the issues we were addressing in the initial bill, which was CBP ICE and funding it for the next three years”
Schumer: "If Republicans try to force through their reconciliation bill again, the first amendment I will offer will be to ban the slush fund permanently and forever."
Folks the court did NOT rule that the fund is dead. She only ruled that for a two-week period the fund would be on pause while the judge could sort through the legal issues. Abiding by the court order does not mean killing the fund.