Trump set to declare national emergency to get wall funded
DONALD Trump has indicated he is prepared to sign the government funding bill and issue a national emergency decree on the border with Mexico, a leading Republican has confirmed.
The confirmation from Mitch McConnell came as the US Senate last night passed the bill that is needed to avoid a partial federal shutdown.
The bill was duly sent to the House of Representatives for approval.
The compromise measure keeps departments running through the fiscal year – but without the $5.7billion (€5billion) the US president wanted for the border wall with Mexico.
Senate majority leader Mr McConnell also said he would support Mr Trump’s emergency declaration, a change from the Republican politician, who, like Democrats and many of his own party colleagues, has until now opposed such a move.
The emergency declaration will inject the likelihood of fresh conflict between Congress and Mr Trump over his efforts to build barriers along the boundary with Mexico.
Opponents have said there is no crisis at the border and that Mr Trump is merely sidestepping Congress.
The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation on the government funding agreement last night, and passage by the Democratic-led House of Representatives also seemed certain.
Mr Trump had signalled he would sign the bill, but some politicians were uncertain until Mr McConnell’s announcement if he would do so, prompting them to voice concern.
‘Let’s all pray that the president will have wisdom to sign the bill so the government doesn’t shut down,’ said Republican senator Charles Grassley, chiming in after a guest chaplain opened yesterday’s session.
However, the White House confirmed Mr Trump will sign the bill averting a potential partial government shutdown.
Press secretary Sarah Sanders said the president will also take ‘other executive action – including a national emergency’, as he seeks to keep his border wall pledge.
Ms Sanders said: ‘The president is once again delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country.’
Mr Trump’s assent on the government funding issue would end a raucous legislative saga that commenced before Christmas.
The low point was the historically long 35-day partial federal shutdown, which Mr Trump sparked and was in full force when Democrats took control of the House, compelling him to share power for the first time.
The president yielded on the shutdown on January 25 after public opinion turned against him and congressional Republicans. It was a political fiasco for Mr Trump and an early triumph for House speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Mr Trump made building a wall on the southern border his signature policy in his 2016 successful election campaign against Hillary Clinton.
The recent deadlock comes as Democrats hoping to challenge for the White House in 2020 have started to declare their intention to seek the party’s nomination. news@dailymail.ie
‘Delivering on his promise’