Republican Senators Block Nearly $1.8 Billion Compensation Fund

Republican senators in Washington have refused to advance a key budget package, marking a rare and significant break with President Donald Trump after he demanded the creation of a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund. The fund, which the president described as an "anti-weaponization" effort, was intended for individuals he believes were wrongly prosecuted, including some involved in the January 6 Capitol breach. The Senate's refusal has delayed a roughly $70 billion spending bill critical for funding immigration and deportation operations through the remainder of the president's term.

The confrontation culminated in senators postponing a vote until Congress reconvenes next month, missing a June 1 deadline set by the White House. When asked if he was losing control of the Senate, President Trump responded, "I really don't know." The dispute centers on a proposal where the administration would settle its own lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service to establish the compensation fund, a plan that drew sharp criticism from within the president's party.

Senior Republican lawmakers publicly denounced the initiative. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina questioned the logic of...