Trump's "anti-weaponization fund" torpedoes ICE funding deal

$72 billion in funding for ICE and Border Patrol is now in limbo after https://www.axios.com/2026/05/21/trump-ballroom-anti-weaponization-fund-iran" target="_blank">GOP senators revolted against President Trump's $1.776B "https://www.axios.com/2026/05/20/trump-anti-weaponization-fund-judgment-fund-explainer" target="_blank">anti-weaponization fund" on Thursday.

Why it matters: The fund was dropped like "a bomb in the middle of a pretty well planned out reconciliation bill," Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters.

• The package for ICE and Border Patrol funding was on track to pass by the weekend.
• But senators left town without voting on Thursday after a heated two-hour meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
• "Somebody described it as a galactic blunder, and I think that's probably true," Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) told https://x.com/mkraju/status/2057524067725348919" target="_blank">CNN.

The bottom line: I'm not sure the fund should exist," said Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost his Louisiana GOP primary on Saturday as part of Trump's https://www.axios.com/2026/05/19/republican-senate-trump-cornyn-cassidy-tillis" target="_blank">revenge tour.