Senate Republicans block amendment to halt Trump IRS audit immunity deal

Published Jul 30, 04:29 PM UTC

On July 30, 2026, the Senate Finance Committee voted down a Democratic amendment that would have blocked the IRS from making tax audit immunity deals with a sitting president, their family, or related entities. The amendment, forced by ranking Democrat Ron Wyden, aimed to kill President Trump's existing IRS audit immunity deal and require Treasury reporting to Congress. All 14 Republicans on the committee voted against it, including Senators Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn, who have publicly opposed the settlement but declined to take legislative action. The settlement reportedly includes a $1.8 billion fund for victims of alleged political weaponization. Republican Chair Mike Crapo argued the amendment would make the broader tax procedure bill partisan and harm its chances of becoming law. Democrats criticized the vote as protecting the well-connected from tax law compliance.