WASHINGTON — As protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) erupted in Los Angeles and spread to cities across the country, including New York, San Francisco, Boston, and Austin, lawmakers on Capitol Hill advanced sweeping legislation that Democrats say undermines civil rights and public safety.
In the shadow of the unrest — and amid a growing standoff between President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom — the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security released and swiftly moved forward a $66.36 billion appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026. The legislation, backed by Republicans, mirrors the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda as well as Project 2025 and was developed even as downtown LA was placed under a curfew by Mayor Karen Bass following five days of clashes between police and protesters.
United States House of Representatives chamber at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. [public domain
The bill, part of Trump’s broader budget reconciliation package now under Senate review, funnels unprecedented funding into immigration enforcement, border militarization, and detention expansion. It provides $18.98 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), $11 billion for ICE, and $1 billion for transporting deportees — all while controversy grows over wrongful ICE detentions, including reports of U.S. citizens being mistakenly deported and children being separated from their families.
The funding package comes as Trump deployed 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to Los Angeles without Newsom’s consent, prompting the governor to file suit against the federal government for overriding California’s authority.
While the bulk of the bill supports immigration enforcement and border security, including 50,000 ICE detention beds, $346 million in surveillance technology, and expanded Coast Guard operations, Democrats have condemned it as a “partisan overreach.” They argue that it shortchanges key national security functions, such as cybersecurity, and dismantles oversight offices intended to prevent human rights violations.
“It abandons due process, raises costs on the American people, and fails to protect us from real threats,” said Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee’s ranking member. She cited cuts to terrorism prevention grants and the shuttering of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office as particularly egregious.
Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) added, “This bill opens the door to foreign propaganda, eliminates local law enforcement support, and sacrifices community safety for tax cuts benefiting the ultra-wealthy.”
Still, Republicans defended the bill as a necessary course correction. They emphasized its provisions to eliminate what they characterize as wasteful or ideologically driven spending — such as federal funding for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Critical Race Theory, and gender-affirming care for detainees. The bill also bans abortion services for people in ICE custody and bars the issuance of federal IDs to undocumented immigrants.
In a notable escalation, the bill contains policy riders that restrict educational visas to accredited institutions and prohibit the parole of Chinese nationals into U.S. territories like the Northern Mariana Islands. It also defunds several immigration-related programs, including the Shelter and Services Program and the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman.
Religious Freedom Clause
But perhaps the most controversial component of the bill emerged late in the markup process — a religious exemption clause that critics say grants sweeping immunity for anti-LGBTQ discrimination.
Section 544 of the bill bans the federal government from taking any “discriminatory action” against individuals or organizations that oppose same-sex marriage on the basis of “sincerely held religious belief” or “moral conviction.” Legal experts warn that this language could allow federally funded contractors to refuse services, benefits, or employment opportunities to LGBTQ individuals without consequence.
The provision mirrors language previously promoted by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) and praised by leaders of known anti-LGBTQ organizations, such as Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. Its sudden inclusion has drawn intense criticism from civil rights advocates and LGBTQ organizations, who say it undermines constitutional protections and threatens to roll back decades of civil rights progress.
The bill also provides for the following:
- It grants broad legal immunity to individuals, businesses, and organizations — even federal contractors or grantees — who discriminate based on opposition to same-sex marriage.
- It applies regardless of the context (e.g., hiring, services, housing assistance, or law enforcement roles) as long as the person or entity cites a religious or moral belief.
- It would prevent federal agencies under DHS from enforcing non-discrimination rules if a violator cites this belief.
- The language is not narrowly tailored to protect religious institutions alone — it extends to potentially any recipient of federal funds or regulated party.
House Democrats were quick to condemn the provision. “This is a direct attack on the LGBTQ community under the guise of religious liberty,” said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), co-chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. “It creates a dangerous precedent where bigotry is protected and sanctioned by federal law.”
The bill was officially introduced and passed out of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on Monday June 9, 2025. Committee members approved a total discretionary allocation of $66.36 billion, with a markup that included key policy riders and funding specifics. It has since advanced to the full House Appropriations Committee.
Critics have noted that the bill would invite taxpayer-funded discrimination and called on the Senate to intervene.
The bill is now also under consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee, specifically its Homeland Security subcommittee, and President Trump is lobbying for swift approval without amendments. Combined with the larger reconciliation package, which includes tax cuts for the wealthy, health care rollbacks, and reductions to food assistance programs, the Homeland Security bill reflects the administration’s aggressive approach to immigration, national security, and cultural policy.
Congressional sources indicate that the Senate is targeting the week of June 23 for a floor vote, potentially bundling the measure with other appropriations bills. Final passage and a presidential signature are expected before the July 4 recess.
While Democrats vow to fight the measure, its passage in the House highlights the Republican majority’s alignment with the Trump administration’s core priorities. As protests continue to draw national attention and court challenges unfold over the deployment of federal forces, the bill’s broader social and legal ramifications remain under intense scrutiny.
In the words of Rep. DeLauro: “At a time when the country needs healing and protection, this bill delivers division and danger.”
The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.
To join a conversation on this post:
Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.