During consideration of a budget resolution for fiscal 2026 (S. Con. Res. 33), Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered an amendment to cut $45 billion for foreign aid, $16 billion for the Department of Education, $5 billion for refugee programs, and $4 billion for the National Science Foundation in order to offset a $70 billion increase in border-security spending.

The Senate rejected Paul's amendment on April 23, 2026 by a vote of 25 to 73 (Roll Call 99). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because most, if not all, of the money to be cut is being spent on unconstitutional programs. Such spending exacerbates the national debt while diverting resources from core constitutional functions such as protecting the states "against Invasion."