By THE ALASKA STORY
Jan. 31, 2026 – Sen. Lisa Murkowski voted in favor of an amendment to repeal (or rescind) an additional $75 billion in multi-year funding allocated to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also known as ICE.
The vote was on a Bernie Sanders-sponsored amendment to redirect that $75 billion (from prior Republican-backed legislation) to Medicaid instead. It was mostly a party-line vote, but Murkowski (along with Susan Collins and Democrats/Independents) supported the amendment to repeal the extra ICE funding.
The vote is typical of the kind of vote that Murkowski casts, one that is symbolic but does not change the course of events. The measure passed without her support. It was a case reminiscent of “Lucy and the Football” from the Peanuts cartoon: Earlier in January, she voted for a Republican budget package providing ICE with nearly $85 billion (more than the US Marine Corps budget at the time), and she has emphasized accountability and management over outright defunding. Now, she wants money clawed back.
Murkowski has also called for Homeland Security Secretary of Kristi Noem to step down.
