The Senate voted to move ahead with legislation funding tens of billions for border security on Friday as Republicans overcame a Democratic-driven voting marathon that stalled its adoption.
A budget resolution providing some $340 billion for the border and defense was approved by the Senate after Democrats offered dozens of amendments, many of them unrelated to the content of the legislation. It reportedly includes $175 billion for border security and illegal immigration enforcement and an additional $150 billion for spending on national defense.
The Senate worked through multiple votes over 10 hours before advancing the resolution shortly before 5 a.m. on Friday. The measure, which allows Republicans to bypass the filibuster, was adopted 52-48, largely along party lines. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was a key vote against the measure.
The resolution is just a framework and does not have the force of law, instead directing Senate committees to draft legislation at certain spending levels. But it brings the GOP one step closer to passing President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Senate leadership has described the resolution as a Plan B in case the House, navigating a one-vote GOP majority, struggles to advance a competing measure that includes tax reform.
But the decision to hold the voting marathon, known as a “vote-a-rama,” ignores the pleas of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to give the House space to act on its own.
The House plans to vote on its budget framework next week, when members return from a recess, but already, centrist Republicans are balking at the $2 trillion in spending cuts negotiated with the conservative Freedom Caucus.
The Senate resolution does not touch tax cuts, saving that fight for later in the year, but Democrats made the planned renewal of Trump’s tax breaks the centerpiece of their amendment blitz.
As the marathon stretched through the night, Democrats sought to paint Republicans as giving handouts to the wealthy while cutting services relied upon by the poor and middle class. Medicaid, in particular, has been a focus of Democrats as House Republicans consider a rollback of the entitlement.
The opening amendment, brought forward by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), would have prevented Republicans from passing tax cuts for billionaires.
Other amendments dealt with housing affordability, energy costs, and the price of groceries as Democrats lean into economic populism following their 2024 election loss.
None of the amendments were binding, and with a 53-47 majority, Republicans had comfortable enough margins to defeat Democratic attempts to amend the resolution.
Still, the marathon signaled how Democrats plan to oppose Trump following his return to the White House last month.
The expiring provisions from Trump’s 2017 law benefit middle- and low-income taxpayers in the form of lower marginal rates and a larger child tax credit, but some disproportionately help the wealthy, including a higher cap on the estate and gift tax.
Trump has given mixed messages on Medicaid, signaling opposition to cuts but openness to removing “waste, fraud, and abuse” from the program.
He’s also muddled his message to congressional Republicans looking for guidance on how to implement his agenda.
Trump undercut the Senate’s decision to hold the vote-a-rama, issuing a statement on Wednesday reiterating his support for “one, big beautiful bill.”
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But he also lauded Senate Majority John Thune (R-SD) as voting got underway Thursday for focusing on his border agenda.
“Put simply, we are delivering for the American People, far faster and, more successfully, than anyone thought possible,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Your work on funding this effort is greatly appreciated!”