Senate passes ICE funding resolution 50-48 as Iran war dominates chamber

The Senate's 50-48 passage of the fiscal year 2026 budget resolution — introduced by Graham earlier in the week — sets up a targeted reconciliation bill to fund ICE and CBP operations. Republicans framed it as a necessary workaround after Democrats blocked DHS appropriations sixteen times. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Senate Majority Whip, said on the floor: "The choice is simple. Fund law enforcement or block it. Fund border security or block it. The American people are watching. They will remember who voted to protect law abiding American citizens, and who voted to protect illegal immigrant criminals."

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, used his floor time to preview a third reconciliation vehicle: "One of those priorities for me is to permanently defund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in the nation and the leading provider of youth gender transition therapies, should not receive a dime — a dime — of taxpayer funding." Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., filed a budget amendment to extend the existing one-year Medicaid ban on payments to abortion providers, set to expire July 4.

Democrats mounted a sustained amendment campaign throughout the vote-a-rama. Sen. Murray pressed the accountability argument: "Not only have Republicans refused even the most basic accountability measures for DHS. Things like displaying their IDs, or taking off masks, or requiring judicial warrants, basic use of force standards. In choosing to send these agencies more money through this process, through reconciliation, Republicans are planning to proceed without the basic accountability requirements we put in place every year in our spending bills." Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, broke with Democrats on DHS broadly but voted no on this bill, saying ICE's conduct "has clearly and repeatedly violated the Fourth and Fifth Amendments" and that the absence of any meaningful reforms "compelled me to vote against this irresponsible bill."

The Senate blocked its fifth consecutive war powers resolution Wednesday, this one led by Sen. Baldwin and co-sponsored by Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., and Andy Kim, D-N.J. On the floor, Schiff said: "Every American family will already be asked to pay over a thousand dollars as their contribution to a war they did not want, which their representatives in Congress did not vote to approve."

Sen. Merkley joined a group of senators in a letter pressing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on civilian harm. The letter cited more than 1,700 civilian deaths, strikes on more than 20 schools and a dozen health care facilities, and cuts to civilian harm mitigation and response programs at the Defense Department "by more than 90 percent." The senators wrote: "The high human toll of this war reflects the administration's broader disregard for the strategic, legal, and moral imperative to minimize civilian harm."

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., took a different tack — arguing for the value of NATO allies in the context of the Iran conflict. In an op-ed republished by his office, Moran wrote that European allies "have been extremely supportive" of U.S. operations, citing testimony from General Alexus Grynkewich, and warned that "renewed criticism of the alliance fails to recognize that it is defensive in nature and risks further alienating partners who are essential to an America First policy." Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., stated after voting for the Baldwin resolution: "It has been 53 days since the start of President Trump's unauthorized war in Iran. And still there is no strategy and no end in sight."

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before both the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate HELP Committee Wednesday, drawing sharp exchanges from Democrats on measles, vaccine policy, and broken promises to Congress. At least five senators — Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Murray, Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md. — released detailed accounts of their exchanges with Kennedy.

Blunt Rochester pressed Kennedy directly: "The United States first became measles-free over 25 years ago, a quarter of a century ago. We have maintained that status in every year since, until you became secretary." When she asked whether Kennedy's department had requested a delay in an international review of the U.S. measles elimination status, Kennedy said "No." Blunt Rochester then said: "It's awfully convenient that we're postponing it until after November, when people won't have the opportunity to know our measles status... You've talked a lot about trust. The people don't trust you."

Alsobrooks confronted Kennedy with a recorded transcript of comments in which he allegedly said "Every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence. And those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get re-parented." Kennedy replied: "I would have to hear that recording. Because I have no memory of saying anything like that." When Alsobrooks said she had the video, Kennedy said: "Well, if I said it, I apologize, but I'd have to see the transcript." Murray, submitting articles for the record, said: "The budget that was sent to us is not MAGA budget. It is not a MAHA budget. It is a war budget — no one can call it anything other than that."

The Senate Banking Committee held a nomination hearing for Kevin Warsh, Trump's pick to chair the Federal Reserve, drawing contrasting reactions along party lines. Sen. Katie Boyd Britt, R-Ala., told Warsh: "I think we would all say, you are absolutely the right man for the job at the right time in our country's history." She also pressed Warsh on the Fed's building renovation costs, saying: "When we're talking about billions of dollars being spent on renovations, it's absolutely appropriate for Congress to ask questions."

Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., used his time to draw a contrast with the Biden era: "Inflation was caused by President Biden's reckless policies and reckless spending... If we get inflation under control, that is how we benefit all Americans." Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., called Warsh's performance "a textbook performance" on CNBC, adding: "Steady, disciplined, exactly what you want in a Fed chairman."

Blunt Rochester announced she would not support Warsh: "I have been very clear that I have not supported Trump's nominees, and he did not give me any reason to go against my precedent. The issue of independence was front and center because this president has already, for the first time in I think 112 years, Justice Kavanaugh said, wanted to fire a sitting member of the Federal Reserve Board." Warsh himself told the committee: "I think the central bank can go back to first principles and improve itself... it wasn't a general roving remit to do what it thought was right — it was a particular remit to focus on particular issues and to not wander."

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., announced growing support for her TRUMP AMERICA AI Act discussion draft Wednesday, citing backers including the Motion Picture Association, the Recording Industry Association of America, the Authors Guild, and more than a dozen other organizations. Blackburn said: "Now, it's Congress' turn to develop the White House framework into legislation that can pass both the House and Senate so that we can codify President Trump's agenda, protect Americans, and unleash AI innovation."

Separately, Blackburn and Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., held a roundtable with more than 20 artists during the Recording Academy's GRAMMYs on the Hill Advocacy Day to discuss the bipartisan NO FAKES Act and TRAIN Act. Blackburn said: "Our Constitution — specifically, Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 — gives all creators in our country the guaranteed right to benefit from their works, but AI is increasingly challenging this right that our creative community relies on to make a living." Welch added: "The voices, words, heart, and soul that live in the music artists create is astonishing — that's deeply human, and can't be replicated by AI." The NO FAKES Act would hold platforms liable for hosting unauthorized digital replicas, while the TRAIN Act would create an administrative subpoena process for copyright holders to obtain information about AI training data.

The Senate unanimously passed the Conflict-free Leaving Employment and Activity Restrictions (CLEAR) Path Act, bipartisan legislation that would permanently ban agency heads, deputies, and Senate-confirmed employees from lobbying on behalf of countries of concern — including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba — after leaving government. The bill was led by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Peter Welch, D-Vt.; Jim Risch, R-Idaho; and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

Cornyn said: "Foreign adversaries with ill intentions should not wield influence on American policymaking, nor should they exploit our own citizens to intercede on their behalf." Welch said: "Public trust in our democratic institutions is eroding. It's vital we set higher standards against potential conflicts of interest for former government employees, particularly when it involves foreign adversaries that might be working to influence U.S. policy." Risch added: "It isn't right for senior government officials to turn their public service experience into a payout from malign foreign governments." The bill now moves to the House.

More than 36 senators signed a letter to the USPS Board of Governors demanding that the postal service refuse to implement President Trump's March 31 executive order restricting mail-in voting. Sen. Gallego, D-Ariz., and colleagues also introduced the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act (Absentee MVP Act) to nullify the order. Gallego said: "I have voted in every election by mail since 2006. Voting by mail is safe, secure, and the first choice for 80% of Arizona voters. Trump realizes that his policies are losing voters, and instead of actually trying to fix the issues they care about, he's trying to fix the election."

The letter, led by Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., warned: "The Constitution provides no role for the President in regulating federal elections. And no statute delegates to the President any authority to regulate elections or voter eligibility either, including via USPS... Any attempt to effectuate this order would violate the Constitution, break these bonds, and threaten the foundations of American democracy." The executive order would direct USPS to create and maintain voter eligibility lists, with criminal liability for election officials who deliver ballots to voters deemed ineligible.

A bipartisan, cross-ideological quartet — Sens. Jim Justice, R-W.Va.; John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; and Michael Bennet, D-Colo. — introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act, which would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow SNAP participants to purchase hot rotisserie chicken with their benefits. Current law bars hot prepared foods under SNAP but permits cooled rotisserie chicken.

Justice said: "Allowing folks on SNAP to buy hot rotisserie chickens is truly just common sense. It's as basic as you can get to help busy parents or grandparents put something as simple as this on the table to feed their families. We have to give people the option to put a healthy, protein-dense choice on the table that actually tastes good and doesn't take an hour and a half to cook." Capito added: "For seniors, working families, and those without reliable access to cooking equipment, this is about convenience and dignity." The National Chicken Council's president said rotisserie chicken "is the most affordable complete protein in the grocery store. At around $7, it can feed an entire family. For the 42 million Americans on SNAP, that matters enormously."

Two Democrats — Sens. Merkley and Murray — pressed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum at an appropriations subcommittee hearing Wednesday on staffing cuts, tribal funding, offshore wind permitting, and the Hanford nuclear cleanup. Merkley, ranking member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, accused the department of violating congressional notification requirements: "We only learned about the merger of the offshore wind regulatory and permitting agencies through the news. This is not a policy disagreement — this is disregard for the rule of law."

Murray confronted Burgum on park staffing in Washington state: "Olympic is down to just one — one — permanent staff on its fisheries team. Mount Rainier — critical to our country, to our region — they're down to four people on a road crew that used to have 14." Burgum said he would take those parks as "action items." On Hanford, Murray pressed Wright on an over $400 million proposed cut: "Anything done in the cover of the night — without support from the State, always, always, ends up back in the courtroom, costing taxpayers more." Wright responded: "Of course we are committed to cleaning up Hanford." Murray's proposed budget cuts for tribal programs ran throughout her prepared remarks, noting the budget "cuts core Tribal programs by one-third. That's $1.5 billion ripped from Tribal governments."

Two Republican senators announced federal airport improvement grants Wednesday from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., announced $14,860,012 distributed across 12 Louisiana airports for terminal upgrades, hangar construction, taxiway rehabilitation, and drainage improvements. Cassidy said: "Louisiana's airports welcome visitors, move goods, and support jobs. These investments improve safety and efficiency today but also make sure our airports keep up with the demands of the future."

Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, announced more than $10 million in Department of Transportation funding for John Glenn Columbus International Airport, to be used to install 12 new passenger boarding bridges. Husted said: "CMH is a key hub for Ohio families, workers and businesses, with more than 130 flights each day. This funding will help modernize the airport and improve the travel experience in Central Ohio."

Two Republican senators introduced separate but related proposals Wednesday aimed at preventing government shutdowns. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., republished a column in The Hill arguing for his Prevent Government Shutdowns Act: "Right now, the Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for more than 40 days. TSA officers, Coast Guard personnel, cybersecurity professionals, FEMA staff, customs officials, and federal investigators responsible for fighting drug cartels, human trafficking networks, and child exploitation have been either working without pay or unable to work at all." His bill would automatically trigger a continuing resolution and require members of Congress to remain in Washington and work seven days a week until appropriations are finished.

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., introduced a Senate resolution on the floor to suspend taxpayer-funded travel reimbursement for senators during government shutdowns. Moody said: "Business as usual, kicking the can, and pushing an issue like government funding down the line isn't cutting it. That's why I'm proposing a Senate Resolution to suspend taxpayer funded travel home for Senators during a lapse in funding."

Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Edward Markey, D-Mass., formally requested that the Department of Transportation Inspector General investigate whether FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford deliberately violated his ethics agreement to boost a stock payout — and misled Congress and the Office of Government Ethics about his actions. Bedford, the former Republic Airways CEO, was required to divest his equity stake by October 7, 2025, but instead held his shares until the airline completed a merger.

The senators wrote to DOT Acting Inspector General Mitch Behm: "According to his recent financial disclosure report, Mr. Bedford sold his Republic stock after the merger closed for potentially more than $25 million. This is likely materially more than Mr. Bedford would have made had he sold his shares on time, on the private market." They continued: "DOT's General Counsel has likewise refused to disclose whether it intends to take any disciplinary actions against Mr. Bedford. These stonewalling tactics underscore why this matter demands an independent investigation without delay."

Democrats on the Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee and the Senate Energy Committee pressed Energy Secretary Chris Wright Wednesday on gas prices, program cuts, and the economic spillover from the Iran conflict. Sen. Murray opened by pressing Wright on the administration's proposal to eliminate the Weatherization Assistance Program, which DOE estimates saves households $372 per year. When Wright called it "just a matter of priorities," Murray pressed back, noting electricity costs are up 6.9% over the past year. Wright said when asked whether gas would return to $3 a gallon before year's end: "Nobody can offer guarantees about the future."

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., pressed Wright directly on the Iran war's economic toll: "A year ago, gas was $3 a gallon. Today, it's $3.90. We're going to see long-term impacts from this war in Iran, impacts at the pump, impacts in manufacturing, impacts in farming and the cost of food." Sen. Gallego pressed Wright on a 33% cut to the Office of Indian Energy: "If the Department is telling tribes what kind of energy sources they should be focusing on while also cutting funding for tribal energy, doesn't that conflict with the self-determination and sovereignty principles that you can support?" He also secured a commitment from Wright to brief his office on changes to nuclear safety rules made without public transparency.

Three Democratic senators — Warren, Bennet, and Wyden — separately targeted the Trump administration's pharmaceutical dealings in releases Wednesday. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., pressed Kennedy at the Finance Committee hearing on TrumpRx, the administration's direct-to-consumer drug platform, saying: "TrumpRx is one more Trump scam right up there with Trump University, Trump Water, Trump Steaks." and "Americans are getting crushed by health care costs, and [RFK Jr.] and Donald Trump are actually making the problem worse." Warren's office found TrumpRx prices are higher for one in four drugs on the platform.

Bennet and Wyden introduced the Drug Deal Disclosure Act, requiring HHS to release terms of deals struck between the administration and more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies, and directing CBO and GAO to assess whether the deals actually lower prices. Wyden said: "There is no greater fraud when it comes to lower prescription drug prices than Donald J. Trump. After spending the last year parading Big Pharma CEOs through the Oval Office, all Trump has to show for it are a handful of sweetheart deals that shower goodies on these companies while Americans continue paying high prices."

Warren and Wyden also led a letter opposing a proposed Treasury rule that would remove a Biden-era reporting requirement for related-party partnership transactions, warning it "will remove a simple reporting requirement, which will neutralize one of the few remaining tools available to the IRS to spot abusive partnership transactions."

More than 30 Democratic senators, led by Sens. Merkley, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., signed a letter to the Agriculture Department raising concerns about the March 31 Forest Service reorganization. The letter warned that changes "potentially impacting more than 6,500 employees — combined with the thousands of employees already lost through deferred resignation programs threatens to further erode the agency's ability to complete its mission."

The senators cited a 2025 Partnership for Public Service survey finding the USFS "was significantly worse at fulfilling stakeholder needs and providing quality service than a year earlier." The letter was reproduced in nearly identical form by both Sen. Warner, D-Va., and Sen. Wyden, D-Ore., with overlapping but distinct signatory lists — a coordinated rollout across multiple offices. The senators wrote: "While we have expressed support for improving the operations of the USFS, we believe the reorganization announced on March 31, 2026, may lead to additional capacity and workforce reductions throughout the agency, harming its ability to deliver on its mission."

Beyond the Banking Committee hearing itself, multiple Democrats framing the Warsh nomination as part of a broader pattern used the occasion to press the White House on Federal Reserve independence. Sen. Blunt Rochester told CNN: "This is a pattern that this administration has stripped independence... Ultimately, you know, it is for his political gain and not for the American people." She flagged Kennedy's use of the phrase "regime change" in a statement about the Fed as a red flag: "What does that mean? Are they going to get rid of people so that they can replace them with Trump loyalists?"

Blunt Rochester also cited the administration's effort — described as unprecedented in 112 years — to fire sitting Federal Reserve Board members, including Governor Lisa Cook, as a backdrop to her skepticism of Warsh's ability to remain independent. Hagerty, meanwhile, on CNBC said Warsh "answered everything" and called Democratic questioning "very disrespectful," while holding out hope for bipartisan support: "Kevin Warsh has been confirmed in the past on a bipartisan basis. Members of this committee have voted for Kevin Warsh for the Fed Governor before this chairman position."

Signals

• coordinatedThe Forest Service reorganization letter appeared in nearly identical form across releases from Sen. Warner (VA) and Sen. Wyden (OR) with overlapping signatory lists — a coordinated multi-office rollout covering 30+ signatories.
• coordinatedThe USPS vote-by-mail letter was simultaneously released by Sens. Merkley (OR) and Gallego (AZ) — the latter also introduced companion legislation the same day, suggesting a coordinated legislative and oversight push across at least 37 senators.
• volumeToday's release count of 105 ran 4.8% below the Wednesday baseline of 110.2, a modest but consistent pattern for mid-week sessions with extended floor votes.
• coordinatedSen. Jerry Moran (KS) issued six releases in a single day — covering NATO, KC-135 modernization, the Parents Over Platforms Act, Rural Health Transformation, USMCA agriculture, and the Commerce Secretary broadband hearing — the highest single-day volume for any senator in this cycle.
• coordinatedThe Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act was released simultaneously by both Sen. Justice (WV) and Sen. Fetterman (PA), with identical third-party quotes, indicating a coordinated bipartisan rollout.
• silent breaksSen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has issued no releases in 51 days, an extended silence that spans multiple major floor votes including the ICE budget reconciliation passage.
• voteThe Senate passed the FY2026 budget resolution 50-48 Wednesday, unlocking reconciliation for ICE and CBP funding — the first procedural vote in what Republicans describe as a June 1 deadline reconciliation process.

Quiet desks

Senators with no release in two weeks or more.

• Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY51d
• Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC35d
• Sen. Ron Johnson, R-WI29d