Trump May Be Open to Deal on DHS Funding After White House Meeting
Senate Republicans believe former President Donald Trump may be open to a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a White House meeting held on Monday night. This development signals a potential shift from his earlier refusal to negotiate without action on the Save America Act.
Proposal Involves Separating ICE Funding
Lawmakers briefed on the talks have indicated that Trump is willing to accept a package that does not fully fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to a report from The Hill, the proposal includes separating some enforcement funding to win Democratic support. Under this plan, Republicans would later seek additional ICE funding through the budget reconciliation process and attempt to advance elements of the Save America Act in a follow-up bill.
A person familiar with the meeting stated, "I think we showed him that we can run a parallel process where we can fund DHS now and have a second reconciliation bill that would put a down payment on some of the Save [America] Act."
Implications for Bipartisan Negotiations
This potential shift could pave the way for bipartisan negotiations on DHS funding, which has been a contentious issue. By compromising on ICE funding initially, Republicans aim to secure Democratic backing while planning to address enforcement priorities later. The strategy involves using the budget reconciliation process to push for additional resources and legislative goals tied to the Save America Act.
The meeting's outcome suggests that Trump may be adopting a more flexible approach to governance, focusing on incremental progress rather than holding out for full implementation of his agenda upfront. This could impact future policy discussions and funding battles in Congress.
