Senate Republicans Reject Democratic Push to Block Trump’s Tax Audit Shield

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday defeated Democrats’ efforts to block the Trump administration’s plan to shield President Donald Trump and his family from IRS audits while advancing a broader tax administration bill with bipartisan support.

The committee voted 14-13 along party lines to reject an amendment that would have barred the administration from implementing the audit protections, according to reports. Lawmakers later approved the underlying legislation by a vote of 26-1, with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) casting the lone dissenting vote.

Democrats have sharply criticized the administration’s plan as an abuse of power that grants Trump treatment unavailable to other taxpayers. Republicans stated they are continuing discussions with the administration over possible revisions as part of negotiations surrounding acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general.

Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) argued the amendment would have jeopardized the broader tax administration package, which contains more than 60 largely noncontroversial provisions intended to improve IRS operations. “This is not the place,” Crapo said. “If this bill were to become the vehicle where this issue is resolved, it would basically make this bill a partisan bill,” giving it “a much dimmer future for becoming law.”

Warren opposed the measure because it did not address the audit agreement. “No other taxpayer, ever, has gotten this kind of a deal,” she said. “I cannot support a bill that rubber stamps Donald Trump’s corruption. Congress needs to stand up and put a stop to it.”

The administration announced the audit plan in May after Trump agreed to drop what officials described as a likely unsuccessful lawsuit against the IRS over disclosure of his tax information by a contractor to The New York Times. Under the agreement, the administration would shield Trump and his family from IRS audits.

The proposal has drawn criticism from Democrats and concern from some Republicans, including Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), a Finance Committee member who has sought changes to narrow its scope. Cornyn stated the protections should apply only to parties named in Trump’s lawsuit and tax returns already filed—not future returns. He noted that Blanche agreed to those limitations during his confirmation hearing but wants them formalized in writing.

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a scheduled Thursday vote on Blanche’s nomination as Cornyn and White House officials continued negotiations over the audit agreement. Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), another Finance Committee member who raised concerns about the proposal, said he believes the administration is working “in good faith” to address lawmakers’ objections.