Senators Unable To Find Funding

A fiery fight broke out on Capitol Hill Thursday as the Senate Appropriations Committee was forced to halt its progress on a major spending bill—all over President Trump’s push to keep the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.. What should’ve been a routine budget markup quickly turned into a battle over deep state politics and government control, highlighting the growing divide over the Trump administration’s America First agenda.

Trump’s FBI Relocation Plan Blocked by Democrat-Led Amendment

The committee met to approve funding for several federal agencies, including the Justice Department and Commerce. But after Democrats introduced a surprise amendment—intended to stop President Trump from keeping the FBI in the nation’s capital—progress collapsed.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spearheaded the effort, demanding the FBI headquarters be moved to Maryland as previously planned under the Biden administration. The amendment passed by a razor-thin 15-14 vote, thanks to Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joining Democrats.

“This is a poison pill,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.). “If this stays in the bill, it’s dead in the water.”
He’s right. The move not only threatens to derail a key DOJ funding package—it also signals open war against the Trump White House’s efforts to drain the swamp.

Republicans Push Back: “This Isn’t the Committee’s Role”

GOP leaders immediately called foul. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who oversees FBI appropriations, blasted the amendment as an overreach:

“We should have nothing to do with choosing where the FBI is located. That’s not the job of this committee.”

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), initially a supporter, reversed her vote and called it “unfortunate” that one partisan move could “sink a widely supported bill.”

What’s Really at Stake? Trump’s Law-and-Order Agenda

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about real estate. It’s about who controls federal law enforcement and where its power base is located. President Trump’s team wants to relocate the FBI to the Ronald Reagan Building, keeping it under closer scrutiny in D.C. The left? They’d rather bury it in the suburbs.

Why? Because the Trump administration is cutting off bureaucratic sprawl—and Democrats know it. Van Hollen and allies claim the Maryland location was selected through a “lengthy, competitive process.” But Republicans argue the Trump team is cleaning up years of mismanagement, and this amendment is a political stunt to stop it.

DOJ Funding Bill Now in Limbo

Until the dispute is resolved, billions in funding for the DOJ, FBI, and other agencies are stalled. That includes:

• Modest boosts for the Census and the National Weather Service
• Flatlining funds for the FBI, ATF, DEA, and DOJ
• Targeted cuts to left-leaning science agencies like the National Science Foundation

Conservatives see this as a win, arguing it reins in agencies that have gone rogue in recent years.

Agriculture & FDA Bills Advance Without Drama

Despite the controversy, the Senate committee unanimously passed the agriculture and FDA funding bills, totaling $27 billion:

• $8.2 billion for the WIC program
• $1.2 billion for food safety
• $240 million for a global food aid program Democrats are pushing to keep, even as President Trump proposed scaling it back to focus on American families first

The committee also approved $7 billion for legislative operations, including a $75 million increase for the U.S. Capitol Police and steady funding for the Library of Congress and Congressional Research Service.

Shutdown Warning Looms: Will Democrats Compromise or Stall Again?

With a September 30 deadline looming, time is running out. Many now expect a stopgap measure to avoid a government shutdown in October.

But here’s the real question:
Will Democrats put politics aside and fund critical operations—or continue obstructing President Trump’s plans to restore order, transparency, and fiscal sanity in Washington?

Final Thoughts for Conservative Readers

The fight over the FBI’s future isn’t just a bureaucratic squabble—it’s a test of political will, and a referendum on the Trump administration’s push to end backroom deals, restore law and order, and put America First.

And once again, it’s clear:
The left will stop at nothing to hold onto the levers of power—even if it means tanking bipartisan legislation that benefits the American people.