Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton.

An effort by Republicans in Congress to approve billions more dollars for immigration enforcement could be back on track.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers today the administration is abandoning a controversial plan to compensate people who say they were targeted by the federal government.

NPR's Sam Greenglass reports.

Republican leadership had abandoned a vote on a party line measure to fund ICE and border patrol.

That was amid GOP blowback against President Trump's $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund.

This week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said discussion among Republicans remained robust,

but he expected testimony from acting attorney general Todd Blanche to alleviate concerns.

And 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.

Blanche later told lawmakers, quote, we are not moving forward with the fund, period.

Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio faced tough questions on a range of issues from Iran to Ebola in hearings today on Capitol Hill.

NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that some senators also

raise doubts about the U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats closer to home. Democratic Senator Tim

Kane says he's received classified briefings about the targeting criteria for attacking boats

in Latin America. And Kane says he was surprised about what's not on the targeting criteria list,

evidence of narcotics on the boat. They chose items that were targets, that authorized the use

of the U.S. military to sink boats and kill people. But they have not used the presence of narcotics

on the boat as one of the targeting criteria.

Secretary Rubio says legal officers decide whether a strike meets the requirements or not, and the U.S. military has walked away from potential targets, though he wouldn't say how often.

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