Republicans who have leaped to former president Trump’s defense over his handling of classified documents are using his indictment to escalate attacks against what they say is a politicized and “weaponized” Department of Justice and a corrupt FBI. They are discussing a wide range of ideas, from funding cuts to investigating the DOJ’s investigation. One senator is blocking votes on most DOJ nominees because of Trump's indictment, reports the Washington Post. “We’re looking at all things,” said Rep Jim Jordan (R-OH). Jordan is one of Trump’s biggest defenders and, as head of the Judiciary Committee, has jurisdiction over the FBI.
Tightening the purse strings is one of the most effective ways Congress can exert power. Republicans plan to use it against DOJ. Jordan is in the process of creating a list of directives to restrict FBI funding, also known as policy riders. He spoke with the chair of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), and senior appropriator Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) on Tuesday on the House floor about funding restrictions. At the top of the list is restricting money for the new FBI headquarters that has been in the works for years in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) backs stripping new headquarters funding. It could inflict some pain on the FBI and show the Republican base he’s being tough on the agency without directly slashing its budget, which would draw attacks from Democrats for defunding law enforcement, a top campaign issue, Another policy rider, Jordan said, would restrict funding to prevent “retaliation” against whistleblowers. If Republicans move forward with cuts to the FBI, Democrats will push back. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), chair of the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees FBI funding, said that most of the FBI budget is personnel and that “there's not a lot there that can be cut.”
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