Polling consistently shows that voters are outraged at what they have seen from the Trump Administration's DHS. What voters may not know is that the 2025 reconciliation bill allocated an unprecedented $191 billion to DHS for the remainder of the Trump presidency. That means that there is enough money to fund the entire department, including TSA, FEMA and other non-ICE and non-CBP functions, until the end of 2027. These critical components should not be held hostage to an expanded enforcement agenda that has already raised serious concerns about accountability and misuse of power.
This report breaks down the money DHS already has, how it's being spent, and how those taxpayer dollars could be put to better use.
Americans Oppose More ICE Funding
When voters learn ICE already has $75 billion: Only 14% want any more money sent to ICE. Meanwhile, 60% support redirecting that funding to Medicaid to make up for recent cuts to the program.
Sources: FWD.us/GBAO Feb 2026; The Economist/YouGov; AP-NORC; PBS/Marist/NPR; Quinnipiac.
DHS Received $191B for Enforcement
Congress committed $191 billion through the July 2025 reconciliation bill — on top of regular appropriations. Here's how it breaks down:
Source: P.L. 119-21 (OBBBA), Title IX (DHS); FY2026 DHS Appropriations Conference Bill.
~$150 Billion Remains Unspent
As of January 2026, DHS has ~$150B in unspent reconciliation funds — enough to operate through the end of FY2027 without any additional appropriations.
Already funded by reconciliation
for all of DHS (excluding Coast Guard)
Enough to fund the entire department into the fourth quarter of 2027. No other agency has anything like this.
FWD.us analysis of P.L. 119-21 (OBBBA), Title IX (DHS). Conservative estimate, January 2026.
An Unprecedented ICE Funding Explosion
ICE Budget: Then vs. Now
Nearly 9x the FY2024 budget. Proposed FY2026 Appropriations + Reconciliation combined.
Source: P.L. 119-21 (OBBBA); FY2024 DHS Appropriations; FY2025 Marine Corps budget ($53.7B); SIPRI.
$22 Billion DHS Slush Fund
A massive fund with little oversight, no line items, and minimal accountability.
in unspecified DHS enforcement funding
Equal to ICE's entire annual budget for more than two years at the FY2024 rate
For context: $22 billion exceeds the annual budgets of the FBI ($11.4B), DEA ($3.2B), ATF ($1.7B), and U.S. Marshals ($4.1B) combined.
Where ICE's $74.85 Billion Goes
60% of ICE's reconciliation money is just for detention beds.
Source: P.L. 119-21 (OBBBA), Title IX (DHS).
Building the Largest Jails in the U.S.
A single proposed facility would be 40-50% larger than the currently existing largest jail in the United States. The administration is seeking to build dozens of facilities like this across 16 states.
Proposed ICE Warehouse Locations
76,500 total proposed detention beds across 23 sites in 16 states.
● DEAL PENDING / COMPLETE — 33,500 beds
● PROPOSED SITES — 14,500 beds
● DHS DENIED USE OF LOCATION — 28,500 beds
Source: "Proposed ICE Warehouse Locations" by Camaron Stevenson (Google My Maps, Feb 2026); CBS News Feb 2026.
23,000+ New ICE & CBP Enforcement Hires
Building a massive new enforcement apparatus from scratch.
ICE: 14,593 New Positions
- Deportation Officers10,000
- OPLA Attorneys1,841
- HSI Criminal Investigators1,000
- OPLA Field Support859
- Removal Assistants (ERAs)325
- Mission Support / Enterprise568
CBP: 8,490 New Positions
- Customs & Border Officers5,000
- Border Patrol Agents3,000
- Mission Support Personnel290
- Air & Marine Agents200
$2.1B in hiring/retention bonuses
$1.8B for Border Patrol alone
Source: P.L. 119-21 (OBBBA), Title IX (DHS).
ICE's 287(g) Program: 900%+ Expansion
Deputizing local police as immigration agents through the previously discredited Task Force Model.
New funding model includes full salaries, overtime, and "performance" bonuses tied to immigration arrests.
Source: FWD.us 287(g) Analysis Brief, Feb. 2026.
Mass Jailing & Deportation Is Just One Piece
The detention buildup must be understood in the context of a broader strategy:
-
Stripping Legal Status
Efforts to revoke or deny status for millions of immigrants, including TPS holders, DACA recipients, and those with pending applications, forcing them into the enforcement pipeline. -
Tens of Billions to Private Prisons
Tens of billions in reconciliation funding flowing to private prison corporations to build and operate detention facilities, creating a massive financial incentive for incarceration. -
Eliminating Bond
Denying the ability for any immigrants to receive bond, keeping people locked up indefinitely while their cases are decided regardless of flight risk or danger. -
Coerced "Voluntary" Departure
Compelling everyone, including refugee families and those with U.S. citizen children, to revoke their legal claims and accept deportation as the only option. This is already happening in Dilley and other facilities.
Source: FWD.us policy analysis, Feb. 2026.
Larger Than Entire State Budgets
Congress committed more to the enforcement buildout than these states spend running their entire governments.
ICE + CBP Combined Reconciliation Funding
Note: ICE+CBP is a multi-year commitment (FY2025–2029). State figures are single-year annual budgets.
State budgets: NASBO, Urban Institute, state budget offices. DHS spending: P.L. 119-21, Title IX (DHS).
One Bill. $191B for Enforcement. $911B Cut from Healthcare.
Same bill. Same vote.
Enforcement Buildout
- $45.0B detention beds
- $46.6B border wall
- $15.4B deportation flights
- $8.5B hiring 14,593 ICE personnel
- $2.1B hiring bonuses
- Plus surveillance, vehicles, facilities
Healthcare Cuts
- 7.5 million lose Medicaid by 2034
- Millions kicked off for not filing paperwork
- Even people who work lose coverage
- 85% of physician groups expect to cut services
- 51% of providers would cut pediatric care
- 47% of providers would cut maternity services
The lowest-income Americans see their income fall 3.1% while the highest earners gain 2.7% — CBO distributional analysis
CBO final score of P.L. 119-21; KFF Medicaid spending allocations Dec 2025; Georgetown CCF Aug 2025; AMA/AMGA surveys.
What $191 Billion Could Fund Instead
Medicaid/CHIP: CBO baseline; MACPAC Dec 2024. Head Start: FFYF FY2026. WIC: USDA ERS FY2024. LIHEAP: ACF FY2025. CCDBG: FFYF FY2026.
They Already Have More Than Enough
If they receive regular FY2026 appropriations, they will be on track to spend a shocking
~$150B from OBBBA remains unspent — enough to fund all of DHS into Q4 2027
ICE is the most heavily funded federal law enforcement body in the country
300-500% increases in interior enforcement
U.S. enforcement spending comparable to the world's 6th-largest military
Only 14% of voters want more money sent to ICE
Not One Dollar More for DHS
DHS already has ~$150 billion in unspent reconciliation funds. Voters overwhelmingly oppose sending more. In FWD.us polling, 60% want that money redirected to Medicaid instead. Congress should demand accountability for the unprecedented funding ICE and CBP already have.
Appendix: Methodology & Sources
Reconciliation Funding ($191 Billion): All figures drawn from P.L. 119-21, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Title IX (DHS). Component-level breakdowns based on CRS analysis of enacted bill text and DHS Congressional Budget Justifications for FY2026. Reconciliation funds are available through FY2029.
FY2026 Appropriations: Conference bill figures reflect the DHS appropriations conference report. FY2024 ICE enacted level ($9.6B) drawn from Senate Appropriations Committee summary and ICE annual report.
Unspent Funds Estimate (~$150B): Conservative FWD.us estimate based on reconciliation enacted amounts minus reported obligations and contract awards as of January 2026.
Polling Data: FWD.us/GBAO national survey, February 2026 (n=1,000 registered voters, MOE +/- 3.1%). Additional polling: The Economist/YouGov, AP-NORC, PBS/Marist/NPR, Quinnipiac, Senate Majority PAC.
Healthcare & Medicaid Figures: Medicaid cuts ($911B over 10 years) from CBO final score of P.L. 119-21. Coverage loss estimates from KFF and Georgetown CCF. Provider impact data from AMA/AMGA surveys.
Military & Budget Comparisons: Marine Corps FY2025 budget request: $53.7B. Global military spending rankings from SIPRI. State budget comparisons from NASBO, Urban Institute, and state budget offices.
287(g) Program Data: FWD.us analysis brief, February 2026. Program participation (760+ agencies, 900%+ growth) and funding projections based on ICE 287(g) program data and MOA analysis.
ICE Warehouse/Detention Data: Proposed facility locations from "Proposed ICE Warehouse Locations" by Camaron Stevenson (Google My Maps, Feb 2026). Blueprint image: CBS News, Feb 2026.
All dollar figures are nominal. Figures may not sum precisely due to rounding.
