Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) moved to overhaul federal security spending today, releasing a targeted reconciliation title that would pump more than $39 billion into the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security through 2029.
The legislative package, developed with Senate leadership and the administration, arrives as a direct response to recent partisan standoffs over border policy and law enforcement funding.
The bulk of the proposed spending is earmarked for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill allocates $30.7 billion to the agency, specifically for hiring and training new personnel, maintaining facilities, and expanding the 287(g) agreements that allow state and local police to assist in federal immigration enforcement.
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Another $3.47 billion is designated for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to boost agent staffing and equipment levels.
“Republicans won’t allow our country to be dragged backward by Democrats’ radical, anti-law enforcement agenda,” Grassley said in a statement. “The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking action to help provide certainty for federal law enforcement and safer streets for American families.”
Beyond the border, the proposal addresses high-level security and investigations.
The U.S. Secret Service would receive $1 billion for upgrades at the White House, specifically targeting security features for the East Wing Modernization Project (Ballroom), which includes “above-ground and below-ground security elements.”
The bill explicitly prohibits these funds from being used for any non-security elements of the renovation.
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The Department of Justice is slated for a $1.45 billion boost. These funds are intended to fuel a wide range of missions, including FBI investigations into child trafficking and public corruption, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) efforts to curb controlled substances, and the prosecution of federal criminal cases by U.S. attorneys.
Grassley criticized previous budget delays, referencing a 76-day DHS shutdown that he said forced officers to miss paychecks.
“We will work to ensure this critical funding gets signed into law without unnecessary delay,” he added.
The funding also targets logistical infrastructure, providing money for transportation costs related to removal operations, information technology upgrades like body-worn cameras, and fleet maintenance for enforcement agencies. All appropriations in the bill are set to remain available until September 30, 2029.
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