Despite recently disclosed information that the government agency conspired with Twitter to block users, Republicans are ready to approve a large budget measure that contains billions in funding for the FBI.
According to a description of the measure by the House Appropriations Committee, the law allocated $11.33 billion for the FBI “to investigate extremist violence and domestic terrorism.” According to reports, the amount is $524 million higher than what the president asked and $569.6 million higher than the levels that were adopted for the 2022 fiscal year.
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Between October 2019 and February 2021, the staff at Twitter reportedly received $3.5 million in compensation from the FBI as payment for handling the agency’s requests. This information was made public as part of Elon Musk’s ongoing “Twitter Files” series, which has exposed Twitter’s role in user repression. The documents also showed that the FBI was friendly with Twitter employees and had a hand in preventing the New York Post from publishing an item about Hunter Biden’s laptop before the 2020 presidential election.
Additionally, Twitter was notified by the FBI to take down a number of particular posts. According to the records, Twitter also employed former FBI agents.
The purpose of the additional funds was to “help prosecutions linked to the January 6 attack on the Capitol and domestic terrorist charges,” according to United States Attorneys. The $2.63 billion authorized under the bill is $212.1 million higher than what was planned for FY 2022.
To boost its responses to gun violence, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will receive $1.75 billion, an increase of $215.9 million over the amount authorized for FY 2022.
The 2023 omnibus bill, which totaled $1.7 trillion and had more than 4,000 pages, outlines Congress’ spending plan for the following fiscal year (FY). Before its Friday deadline, the bill must be approved by both chambers of Congress in order to prevent a government shutdown.
The most “egregious provisions in the bill,” as North Carolina Republican Rep. Dan Bishop noted in a tweet on Tuesday. A wax museum, maintenance of the Michelle Obama Trail, and financing for LGBTQ activities were also included in the measure.
The omnibus bill is supported by Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, but numerous House Republicans are pressuring senators to vote “no” by threatening to block legislation from any senators who support the measure. According to The Hill, Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarty supported the letter on Tuesday after it was received on Monday.
