President Trump Wants $8.6 Billion for Border Wall

“Build the Wall” is one of President Trump’s most well-known campaign promises. Now, almost at the end of his term, there is still no wall or money for the wall. On March 11th, reportedly, President Trump will be asking Congress for an extra $8.6 billion to help pay for the wall. ^[1]

A New Promise

For the past few months, the President has been battling Congress for funding for his wall. But most Democrats see the wall as unnecessary or harmful to illegal immigrants. Democrats also control the House of Representatives, which makes passing a budget for the wall very unlikely.

“Build the Wall” was one of the promises that helped win Trump the presidency in 2016. “Finish the Wall” is quickly becoming an essential point in his re-election campaign.

Need More Money

Although it is unlikely that Congress will agree to giving Trump $8.6 billion, it could help his campaigning and his national rating if he did receive the money. “It gives the president the ability to say he has fulfilled his commitment to gain operational control of the southwest border,” ^[2] an administration official said of the budget request.

After Trump’s previous request for funding failed, Trump declared a national emergency and budgeted $8.1 billion on his wall. Unfortunately for him, many Democrats, along with Republicans, opposed him declaring a national emergency. Many lawmakers have accused Trump of overstepping his constitutional bounds by declaring the emergency. So far the U.S. House has voted to get rid of the emergency, and it is expected that the Senate will also vote to revoke the emergency. This will leave Trump to veto the resolution and continue trying to get over $8 billion for the wall. ^[3]

Funding for the wall passed before October first, the beginning of the 2020 federal fiscal year or President Trump could shut down the government again.