Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Tuesday he plans to introduce a resolution rejecting former President Donald Trump's call to "defund" the Department of Justice and FBI.
In a letter to Senate Democrats, Schumer said he will offer a resolution when the chamber returns to Washington next week.
"Donald Trump's call for defunding federal law enforcement agencies is a baseless, self-serving broadside against the men and women who keep our nation safe," Schumer wrote.
"The good work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice sends criminals to prison for bank robbery, sex trafficking, child pornography, hate crimes, terrorism, fraud, and so much more. The former President and his allies in Congress must not subjugate justice and public safety because of their own personal grievances."
According to Axios, the move is an attempt to force Republicans to choose between an unpopular stance or breaking with Trump — using the chamber's Democrat majority to put Republicans in a bind.
The text of the resolution, shared in the letter to Senate Democrats, "recognizes and appreciates the dedication and devotion demonstrated by the men and women of Federal law enforcement agencies."
And it calls out Trump, rejecting his attempts "to degrade public trust in Federal law enforcement agencies for attempted political or legal benefit."
Trump's demands for the defunding came amid an investigation of him by a DOJ special counsel over his handling of classified documents and actions related to Jan. 6 and after his arrest in Manhattan on felony charges related to hush-money paid to a porn star.
Some Republicans questioned the defunding notion, with Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., telling Axios last week: "It's not going to happen. We have a country to run."
Other Trump allies, including Dan Bolduc, are behind the "defund the FBI" call by Trump, while House Republicans on the Judiciary Committee have formed a Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.
According to Axios, Schumer may offer unanimous consent on his resolution, allowing just one Trump-sympathetic Republican senator to block it from passing — or he could force Republicans into an up-or-down vote on the resolution, which would be subject to the Senate's 60-vote threshold.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.