Trump demands $8bn from Congress for ‘essential’ border wall
DONALD TRUMP is today expected to request an extra $8.6billion (£6.6 billion) to fund his border wall with Mexico, setting the scene for another showdown with Democrats as he continues to attempt to fulfil his signature campaign pledge.
The US president will ask Congress for the extra money when he unveils his 2020 federal budget blueprint.
If approved, the money would be in addition to the $8 billion he has already secured, in part by declaring a national emergency on the border.
According to The Washington Post, the president is seeking $5 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security to continue building the structure and another $3.6 billion for the Defence Department’s military construction budget.
Funds would also be allocated to hire more than 2,800 law enforcement and support personnel for the agencies, and 100 immigration judge teams.
To balance the books, Mr Trump will propose slashing domestic and international programmes including foreign aid, environmental protection and transportation, according to various American news outlets.
Larry Kudlow, the president’s top economic adviser, revealed yesterday that the US leader wanted to see a 5 per cent cut on all domestic spending.
Asked whether another budget battle was on the horizon, he said: “I suppose there will be. [The] whole issue of the wall, of border security, is of paramount importance. We have a crisis down there. I think the president has made that case very effectively.”
“It will be a tough budget... [Trump] is going to stay with his wall. He’s going to stay with the border security theme. I think it’s essential.”
The news comes just weeks after the end of the longest government shutdown in history after Mr Trump asked for $5billion for the wall.
Congress has until September to agree a new budget deal, but with Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, it seems inconceivable that Mr Trump’s request will be met, creating the potential for another lengthy shutdown.