Trump administration eyes disaster money to fund border wall
The
It is the latest sign that the administration is laying the groundwork for a possible emergency order as negotiations between Trump and congressional
Trump on Thursday gave his strongest public indication yet that he is leaning toward an emergency declaration as he traveled to the
Trump told reporters as he left the
Nearly
The money funds a variety of projects, mostly flood control to prevent future disasters.
A second official with knowledge of the proposal said it would fund construction of about 315 miles (500 kilometers) of border barrier. Right now, barriers blanket about one-third of the 1,954-mile (3,145-kilometer) border with
Officials have estimated that roughly one-quarter to one-third of the money, or
Regardless of where the money is found, an emergency declaration would draw immediate legal challenge from
Republican and Democratic lawmakers raised immediate concerns over shifting funds that have already been approved by
Rep.
"If they drag the money out of here," Simpson said in an interview late Thursday, "a lot of members will have problem with it."
Rep.
He said the
And Rep.
"Siphoning funding from real disasters to pay for a crisis manufactured by the president is wholly unacceptable and the American people won't fall for it," she said.
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