Dozen GOP rebels fail to permanently kill Trump's controversial $2B fund

Senate Republicans rallied against permanently killing President Donald Trump's nearly $2 billion "anti-weaponization" fund despite heavy criticism among their ranks.Republicans and Democrats shut down an amendment from Sen.Thom Tillis, R-N.C., that would prevent the fund from ever returning and instead divert the funding to the nation's fraud fund.

Though Senate Democrats despise the "anti-weaponization" fund, diverting the money was a bridge too far for nearly the entire caucus.A dozen Republicans voted for the amendment, however, signaling a broad distaste for the fund and any future plans the administration may have for it. The amendment’s failure could put to bed the growing push to codify a permanent end to the fund and comes after hours of delays at the onset of the Senate's marathon voting spree to pass the GOP's nearly $70 billion immigration enforcement package.BOTH PARTIES TARGET TRUMP'S $2B FUND AS ICE FUNDING PACKAGE ENTERS DANGER ZONESen.Thom Tillis, R-N.C., told his colleagues that he would not support the upcoming budget reconciliation package if it included $1 billion for President Donald Trump's ballroom.

(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)The fund, announced last month as part of a settlement between the Trump family and the Internal Revenue Service, received strong pushback from Republicans who feared that without proper guardrails, people convicted of assaulting police officers during the Jan.6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill could access the taxpayer funds.Still, Republicans who were already incensed over the issue weren’t sold on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s vow that the administration would no longer pursue the fund.Though Blanche said the administration wasn't looking to move forward with the fund, Trump struck a different tone in the Oval Office on Wednesday when asked about the fate of the fund, telling reporters, "I’d have to ask the lawyers.

I don’t know."GOP ADVANCES ICE FUNDING PACKAGE AFTER ...