Trump may get $1.6-B wall fund

WASHINGTON, D. C.: Congressional bargainers are working toward a border security deal amid indications that the White House is preparing to accept a bipartisan agreement that will give President Donald Trump a fraction of the money he has demanded for his proposed southern border wall.

Participants said they expect money for physical barriers to end up well below the $5.7 billion that Trump had sought to begin construction of the wall,

- cance for him and his conservative supporters. Underscoring the clout he had lost during a battle that had dominated the opening weeks of divided government, the amount seemed sure to fall much closer to $1.6 billion, the

was in a bipartisan Senate last year.

“That’s what we’re working toward,” said Rep. Lucille RoybalAllard, California Democratic, one bargainer.

An agreement will also avert a new partial federal shutdown

bill next weekend. Trump has warned he might trigger a new closure of agencies if he did not get his way, but that threat had become toothless because of solid opposition from GOP (Republican) lawmakers burned by the record 35-day closure that he initiated in December.

One White House aide said Trump was expected to back whatever compromise emerges and acknowledged there was no will among congressional Republicans for another shutdown. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions.

Coupled with a widespread expectation that the agreement will not use the term “wall,” the pact for Trump, for whom “Build the wall!” has been a battle cry since his presidential campaign.

Democrats seemed to draw a

“Throughout the talks, Democrats have insisted that a border security compromise not be overly reliant on physical barriers,” said Evan Hollander, spokesman for Democrats who control the House Appropriations Committee. “We will not agree to $2 billion in funding for barriers.”

In another signal that Trump was reluctantly preparing to give ground, the White House has been considering accepting the deal, but also using executive action to secure additional barrier funding without lawmakers’ approval. That plan was described by two people familiar with White House thinking, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Depending on what Trump does, such an action could spark lawsuits or congressional votes of disapproval.

Trump supporters have said there are other executive powers Trump could use to divert money from the budget to wall construction, though it was unclear if they would face challenges in Congress or the courts. One provision of the law lets the Defense Department provide support for counter-drug activities.

were focusing on the type and location of barriers, participants said. Also in play were the number of beds the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency could have for detained migrants and the amount of aid included for natural disaster relief.

Money for high- tech surveillance equipment and more personnel was also expected to be included.

No one ruled out last-minute problems, especially with Trump’s penchant for head-snapping turnabouts. But the momentum was clearly toward clinching an agreement that Congress can pass by next Friday. The next day, many government agencies will run out of money and have to close again without a deal.