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 prevented the IRS from making tax audit immunity deals with a sitting president, their family, or connected 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. Every Republican on the committee voted against it, including Senators Bill Cassidy and John Cornyn, who have publicly opposed the settlement but took no legislative action. The amendment failed 14-13. Republicans argued the amendment would make the bipartisan tax procedure bill partisan and doom its passage. The Trump settlement also includes a nearly $1.8 billion fund for victims of alleged political weaponization. Senator Maria Cantwell noted over 7,000 constituent messages opposing the deal.