Republicans Raise Concerns about $5.7 Billion for Refugees in Spending Bill

Opposition to Refugee Funding in Spending Bills

Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) have expressed strong concerns over the proposed billions allocated for refugee funding within one of the spending bills for fiscal year 2026.

The Department of Labor and Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill includes about $5.69 billion for refugee services, which is significantly higher—about three times the previous amount—since President Joe Biden assumed office.

“The spenders in Congress are back, aiming to pass a bill that pours billions into refugee benefits, all amid reports of fraud,” stated Paul, who chairs the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “I plan to put forth an amendment to halt this funding. Congress hasn’t done enough to safeguard taxpayer dollars from waste and abuse.”

He further noted, “Observe how the administration’s supposed allies back this funding for refugees. I voted against it and proposed legislation to cut all welfare benefits for immigrants, including refugees.”

Lee chimed in with a resolute stance, saying, “We need to end this nonsense. My SAVE Act mandates proof of citizenship on ballots and reinforces the MAGA agenda, particularly regarding immigration. If the Senate continues to follow recent troubling trends that undermine our country, we simply aren’t fit to govern.”

The congressional earmark of nearly $6 billion for refugee resettlement could weaken previous efforts by the Trump administration to restrict noncitizens from accessing U.S. welfare programs.

The Biden administration’s ongoing large-scale immigration initiative is currently bringing in hundreds of thousands of refugees from various nations, including Afghanistan and Somalia.

Notably, one of the largest refugee groups includes many Afghans, with some involved in violent incidents, exemplifying growing concerns about security and integration. Since 2021, the administration has allowed around 200,000 evacuees into the country.

These individuals qualify for a range of federal welfare benefits, such as SNAP, food stamps, and various forms of assistance from Housing and Urban Development as well as Emergency Medicaid. Minnesota serves as a stark case, where the state’s Medicaid system faces exploitation, with many refugees relying heavily on such programs.

Paul and Lee’s resistance to refugee funding in the Labor and Health and Human Services bill is partly a reaction to prior exclusions of Medicaid for refugees under past administration actions. Trump’s executive measures had significantly curtailed the influx of refugees and noncitizens who could access federal benefits designated for citizens.