Demand is more than six times what the US congress allocated for border projects in each of past two fiscal years
The demand is more than six times what the US congress allocated for border projects in each of the past two fiscal years, and 6% percent more than Trump has corralled by invoking emergency powers in 2019Men walk near a reinforced section of the US-Mexico border fence as seen from Tijuana, Mexico. Picture: Guillermo Arias/AFP
Democrats, who oppose the wall as unnecessary and immoral, control the US House of Representatives, making it unlikely the Republican president's request will win congressional passage. Republicans control the senate.The proposal comes on the heels of a bruising battle with congress over wall funding that resulted in a five-week partial federal government shutdown that ended in January and could touch off a sequel just ahead of a trifecta of ominous fiscal deadlines looming this fall.
“It gives the president the ability to say he has fulfilled his commitment to gain operational control of the southwest border,” an administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said of the budget request. Trump's wall request is based off a 2017 plan put forward by customs and border protection officials to build or replace 1,162km of barrier along the border, which in total is estimated to cost about $18bn.
The administration has not estimated how far the 2019 funds will go, but officials said average costs are about $25m per 1.6km. Trump will propose an overall 5% increase to the department of homeland security budget over fiscal 2019 appropriations, including $3.3bn, or 22% more, for customs and border protection, and $1.2bn more for immigration and customs enforcement, a 16% hike, officials said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump to ask Congress for $8.6bn for border wallThe demand is more than six times what Congress allocated for border projects in each of the past two fiscal years.
Read more »
Twitter in stitches after Donald Trump refers to Apple CEO Tim Cook as 'Tim Apple'Trump The video, uploaded by Sean O’Kane, a senior correspondent for media network The Verge, now has more than five million views and 40,000 retweets.
Read more »
US AG has to strike a tricky balance on Mueller’s Russia reportCaught between Democrats and Republicans — with Trump staring on — William Barr’s job is a ‘political nightmare’
Read more »
Newsdeck: Trump Set to Become $100 Billion Man as U.S. Trade Gap SurgesPresident Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed Tariff Man, is set to become the $100 Billion Man.
Read more »
Former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort could face life in prison | IOL NewsUS President DonaldTrump's former campaign chief PaulManafort is to be sentenced for tax crimes and bank fraud.
Read more »
Newsdeck: Zimbabwe Hires Trump-Linked Lobbyists in Bid to End SanctionsZimbabwe hired U.S. lobbyists linked to President Donald Trump’s 2016 election race in a bid to have sanctions it says are hindering its economy scrapped.
Read more »
Ramaphosa, SADC effort comes to nought as Trump extends Zim sanctionsEarlier this year, Ramaphosa spoke on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, saying Zimbabwe faces 'serious, serious, economic challenges and they can be assisted by the world if those sanctions are lifted.'
Read more »
Trump warns Kim over 'rebuilding' of North Korea rocket site
Read more »
Former Trump campaign chief to be sentenced, could face life in prisonPaul Manafort was convicted by a Virginia jury in August of five counts of filing false income tax returns, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failing to report a foreign bank account.
Read more »
Newsdeck: Trump Says He’d Be Disappointed in Kim If Missile Site RebuiltPresident Donald Trump said he’d be very disappointed in Kim Jong Un if reports are accurate that North Korea has begun rebuilding a missile test site it dismantled last year.
Read more »