President Donald Trump signed a $70 billion homeland security bill on Wednesday. The legislation, led by Republicans, narrowly passed the House despite the GOP’s slim majority. Speaking from the Oval Office with House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and other lawmakers, Trump expressed his satisfaction with funding the Department of Homeland Security. He emphasized the importance of providing resources to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
“The bill ensures vital funding for domestic law enforcement and efforts against child exploitation,” Trump stated. He highlighted the ongoing mission to restore law and order and protect America’s youth.
For over 100 days, congressional Democrats attempted to block all funding for the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to dismantle the borders of the United States of America,Trump criticized. He accused them of leading the country back to the challenges of the Biden administration.
Trump criticized former President Joe Biden’s policies, alleging they facilitated illegal immigration. He also criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris for her role as a border czar, claiming she never fully utilized ICE and border patrol resources.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise emphasized the urgency of action amid heightened security threats. Initially, resistance came from conservatives who wanted to formally establish Trump’s immigration-related executive orders. Representative Keith Self stressed the need for legal reinforcement but noted funding for ICE and border protection as a priority.
Despite opposition from Senate Democrats and Republican Lisa Murkowski, the bill passed. The majority of the GOP argued for full funding of ICE and Customs and Border Protection during Trump’s term.
The delay in passing the bill was due to some Republicans’ concerns over the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” proposed by Trump. They feared these funds might be accessed by those convicted in relation to the January 6 Capitol riot.
The passage followed a previous shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security by Democrats, who objected to Trump’s immigration enforcement actions. However, ICE had been funded earlier through separate legislation, mitigating the shutdown’s effect.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for further comments. Charles Creitz, a reporter for Fox News Digital, contributed to the story. Based in Pennsylvania, he graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism.