As Senate Republicans Move to Give ICE, CBP $70 Billion, Agencies Are Sitting on $100 Billion from Previous Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Senate Republicans prepare to pass a funding bill that would give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion in new funding, data from the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) SF-133 reports shows that, as of the end of April, the two agencies are […]
Merkley Calls on Independent Watchdogs to Probe Trump’s New “Golden Fleet” Battleship Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, called on two independent, nonpartisan agencies—the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)—to investigate President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Fleet” initiative, including the new Trump-class battleship and frigate that together could cost more than $200 […]
Letter to GAO Golden Fleet
Letter to CBO Golden Fleet
Merkley Opening Statement at Budget Committee Markup on Republican ICE and Border Patrol Slush Fund Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, delivered the following opening statement at a Senate Budget Committee markup hearing on the Republican bill that would gift Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion and throw $1 billion at Trump’s […]
Budget Committee Reconciliation Legislative Text
Leader Schumer, And Ranking Members Merkley, Durbin, Peters, Whitehouse, Heinrich Statement On Successfully Striking GOP’s First Attempt To Fund $1 Billion For Trump’s Gilded Ballroom In Republican Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate […]
Golden Ballroom Slush Fund Violates Byrd Rule, According to Senate Parliamentarian
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Parliamentarian advised that the provision in the Judiciary Committee title of the Republicans’ bill that provides $1 billion for Trump’s gilded ballroom would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if it remains in the bill. “The American people shouldn’t spend a single dime on Trump’s gold-plated ballroom boondoggle. That’s […]
Senate Parliamentarian Advises Byrd Rule Violations in Republicans’ ICE and Border Patrol Slush Fund Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Parliamentarian advised that provisions in the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) title of the Republicans’ bill that would gift Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion in new spending would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in […]
CBO Tells Merkley: Trump’s “Golden Dome” Could Cost Taxpayers More Than $1.2 Trillion
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, at the request of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released independent analysis showing that President Trump’s plan to deploy a next-generation missile defense shield—dubbed “Golden Dome”—will cost U.S. taxpayers more than of $1.2 trillion. This is an alarming […]