The Senate passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill early Thursday morning after 18 hours of debate, with senators voting along party lines. Only one Republican voted against the funding package, which is designed to cover immigration enforcement costs for the next three years.
According to NPR, the bill had been delayed for weeks over concerns about the Trump administration's nearly $1.8 billion fund described as an "anti-weaponization" fund. Democrats and many Republicans expressed outrage over the provision, but GOP lawmakers ultimately voted overnight to block amendments that would have displeased the president.
Three Republicans joined Democrats on a proposal from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to prevent the fund's creation altogether, leaving that amendment just short of passing. A separate proposal to redirect the fund's money toward fraud enforcement drew more Republican support but also failed. The SAVE America Act, an election overhaul bill that President Trump has called a top priority, was another amendment that failed to clear the Senate overnight.
NPR's Barbara Sprunt told the Up First podcast that the increasing tension between Congress and the White House does not appear to be slowing down.
Also in the news connected to the Justice Department, John Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser during his first term, has agreed to plead guilty to mishandling classified information. Bolton was indicted in October on 18 criminal counts for the retention and transmission of national defense information. Prosecutors say Bolton regularly took handwritten notes about his daily activities, including information from meetings with U.S. intelligence officials and discussions with foreign leaders, and then sent some of that sensitive information to two family members through a messaging app or via email.
The plea deal is tentative and still requires approval from a federal judge, NPR's Ryan Lucas reported. Bolton has said he believes he is being targeted for political reasons due to his outspoken criticism of Trump. Former senior intelligence officials have said there are valid legal grounds for the case. The investigation began under the Biden administration and continued into Trump's presidency. The indictment runs 26 pages and contains detailed allegations.
Lucas noted that the list of the president's perceived enemies targeted by the Justice Department is long, and the public could perceive a legitimate investigation as being driven by politics and revenge, which he said risks threatening the department's legitimacy.
