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U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday the Trump administration has rescinded its plan to use a nearly $1.8 billion fund to pay people who believe they were wrongly prosecuted by the Justice Department.

That decision, combined with testimony from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to a House panel in the afternoon, could end the gridlock that has so far stalled floor debate on a roughly $70 billion package meant to fund immigration and deportation for the rest of President Donald Trump’s term.

“I think his statements are going to be very definitive, very clear and create the certainty that I hope all of our members, and House members need as well, in order for us to proceed on the reconciliation bill,” Thune said, referring to Blanche. “But I’m not guaranteeing that happens yet.”

Blanche previewed his testimony to the House panel during a phone call with Thune, who said he believes the fund is completely off the table.

“The conversation I had with him was very definitive,” Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said.

Bipartisan Opposition Grows Against Trump’s $1.8 Billion Slush Fund

The DOJ posted on social media this week that it plans to abide by a temporary court ruling that blocked distribution of the funds, but Republican lawmakers said that wasn’t enough to end the impasse it created.

The Justice Department announced the creation of the fund last month as part........

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