Graham says he’s moving ‘expeditiously’ on ICE, Iran war funding under reconciliation

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham says he is moving quickly to draft a second budget reconciliation bill that would fund ICE removal operations, enact voting reform measures, and finance military operations against Iran, with backing from President Trump. Reconciliation bills allow legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than the 60 votes normally required, making them a powerful tool for the majority party to advance priorities without opposition support. Graham's effort signals the Trump administration's intent to use the fast-track budget process to advance a sweeping conservative agenda on immigration, elections, and foreign policy early in the president's second term. The move reflects tensions within the Republican Party over spending and priorities, as reconciliation has limited uses per budget year and Democrats will have no formal role in drafting the measure.