Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine voted with their Democratic colleagues on Friday to repeal billions of additional funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and redirect those funds to Medicaid.
The measure from independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont ultimately failed 49-51 as the Senate advanced a broader funding plan.
Newsweek reached out to Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The vote comes on the heels of two fatal shootings in Minneapolis involving federal immigration agents, and backlash to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement protocol.
The amendment vote underscored growing bipartisan discomfort with ICE’s funding trajectory and tactics amid calls for new guardrails at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have also called for Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem’s resignation or impeachment.
What To Know
After voting on amendments, the Senate approved the underlying funding package 71-29, but the deal excluded the DHS appropriations bill in favor of a two-week continuing resolution at current DHS levels to allow negotiations on reform.
Because the House is not scheduled to return until Monday, funding for affected agencies will lapse briefly over the weekend, though impacts are expected to be limited if the House acts quickly next week.
According to NBC News reporter Sahil Kapur, the amendment would have repealed $75 billion in funding for ICE.
What People Are Saying
Murkowski, on X Friday: “Today, the Senate passed five of the six remaining bills needed to fully fund the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2026. That brings the total the Senate has passed to 11 out of the 12 regular appropriations bills. The Senate could not reach consensus on the Homeland Security appropriations bill and instead passed a short-term continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security and its agencies, which include the Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA, and the Secret Service.
“The continuing resolution would fund those accounts through February 13, 2026. Congressional disagreement over the Homeland Security bill centers on how U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been conducting its mission. I support meaningful reforms for ICE and am working with my colleagues to reach bipartisan agreement to put those measures in place. While parts of the federal government will shut down tonight, upcoming votes in the House of Representatives should reopen impacted agencies and provide additional time for Congress to find a path forward.”
Trump, on Truth Social Friday night: “The Radical Left Lunatics, Insurrectionists, Agitators, and Thugs, are going after Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, because she is a woman, and has done a really GREAT JOB! The Border disaster that I inherited is fixed, the violent criminals that were allowed into our Country through Sleepy Joe’s ‘sick’ Open Border Policy, are largely gone, or being strongly sought for purposes of removal, and the Murder Rate in the USA just reached the lowest level in history, 125 years! Washington, D.C., is now one of the safest cities in America – Likewise, numerous other once very dangerous cities!
“Republicans, don’t let these Crooked Democrats, who are stealing Billions of Dollars from Minnesota, and other Cities and States from all over the Country, push you around. They are using this aggressive protest SCAM to obfuscate, camouflage, and hide their CRIMINAL ACTS of theft and insurrection. They should all be in jail. I was elected on Strong Borders, and Law and Order, among many other things. Thank you to Secretary Kristi Noem. Remember, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”
What Happens Next
The House is set to return Monday to consider the Senate-passed package and two-week DHS extension.
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