BORDER SECURITY TALKS CONTINUE WITH LESS MONEY

WASHINGTON» Congressional bargainers traded offers Friday and worked toward a border security agreement that would give President Donald Trump a fraction of the money he’s demanded for his proposed southern border wall and avert a fresh federal shutdown next weekend.

Participants said they expect the pact to end up well below the $5.7 billion that Trump has sought to begin construction of the wall, which has attained iconic significance for him and his conservative supporters. Underscoring the clout he’s lost during a battle that has dominated the opening weeks of divided government, the amount seems sure to fall much closer to $1.6 billion, a figure that was in a bipartisan Senate bill last year.

“That’s what we’re working toward,” said Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., one bargainer.

Coupled with a widespread expectation that the accord would not use the term “wall,” the pact would represent a significant retreat for Trump, for whom “Build the wall!” has been a battle cry since his presidential campaign. It would also avert another partial federal shutdown, a Trump threat that has become toothless because of solid opposition from GOP lawmakers burned by the record 35day closure that Trump initiated in December.

In one 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.