Senate Republicans are advancing a plan to reopen most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the ongoing government shutdown by funding all components except ICE’s immigration enforcement, aiming to gain support from President Trump and Senate Democrats. The proposal includes passing election-related provisions from the SAVE America Act through a separate budget reconciliation bill, though experts doubt these measures will meet strict budgetary rules, raising questions about the plan’s political feasibility. While Democrats remain cautiously open but demand ICE restrictions, bipartisan negotiations continue amid optimism from some Senate leaders to end the shutdown and restore DHS operations.
Posts tagged as “Lindsey Graham”
The U.S. Senate is close to reaching a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security and end a six-week partial government shutdown, with Republicans optimistic after meeting President Trump and planning to fund most DHS agencies except ICE deportation operations through separate budget reconciliation. The shutdown began over disputes about ICE funding and election reform tied to the SAVE America Act, which Trump initially demanded be linked to DHS funding but faces Democratic opposition. Separately, despite publicly denouncing mail-in voting, President Trump cast a mail-in ballot in a Florida special election, highlighting his inconsistent stance on the issue amid ongoing debates over voter ID laws.
Oil prices have surged due to the escalating Middle East conflict, which has disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and drawn significant military attention from the U.S. and its allies. Russia has emerged as a key beneficiary of rising energy prices, potentially increasing its oil revenues and military spending amid the ongoing Ukraine war. Meanwhile, the conflict intensifies with attacks on Gulf countries, heightened regional military deployments, and diplomatic efforts to support affected nations and maintain global energy security.
Former President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting the New York-based law firm Paul, Weiss, suspending security clearances for its employees as part of a broader strategy to challenge legal entities representing his adversaries. This action has sparked debate, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham supporting Trump's move and suggesting that private businesses have collaborated with government entities to undermine Trump. The situation highlights ongoing discussions about the perceived weaponization of legal and governmental institutions against Trump, with insights from figures like former U.S. Attorney Barb McQuade and First Amendment scholar Lee Bollinger contributing to the discourse on the intersection of politics, law, and business in the U.S.
Senator Lindsey Graham expressed concerns about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, warning against the U.S. withdrawing support and comparing it to the situation in Afghanistan. He advocated for continued military and intelligence aid to Ukraine and announced plans to introduce sanctions against Russia's banking and energy sectors to pressure them into peace negotiations. Fiona Hill also commented on the situation, noting the impact of the U.S. pause in intelligence sharing, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reported increased Russian attacks, underscoring the challenges Ukraine faces.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina appeared on NBC's Meet the Press to discuss the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He expressed hope that Israel could do more to limit civilian casualties and warned that Israel must consider its handling of Palestinians if it wishes to pursue normalization with Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration views the creation of formal diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia as an important foreign policy goal, and Graham praised their efforts to normalize relations between the two countries.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday to appeal for U.S. aid for his country, which is suffering from Russian bombings. During the visit, Senator Lindsey Graham asked Zelenskyy to thank Mike Johnson for being willing to pass a package if border security is included, while House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar criticized Johnson for not inviting all House members. Senator J.D. Vance called the visit "grotesque" and Senator Roger Marshall said it was designed to apply pressure on Republicans. It is unclear if Zelenskyy's visit will be successful in helping to secure the aid package.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to issue subpoenas to conservative activists Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo, as part of an investigation into ethics practices at the Supreme Court. Republican members of the committee walked out of the room during the vote, accusing Democrats of attempting to undermine the court. The investigation was launched after reports revealed the court had failed to properly disclose gifts and travel expenses from conservative groups. The committee is now requesting information from Crow and Leo, as part of a new ethics code that requires justices to disclose gifts and travel expenses and recuse themselves from cases in which they have a financial interest.