Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Democrats are to blame for President Trump’s announcement Friday that he plans to act unilaterally to secure more than $6 billion for physical barriers along the southern border.
He called on Democrats to agree to provide more money for border barriers in the next round of spending bills, which must pass before the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
Recommended Stories
“President Trump’s decision to announce emergency action is the predictable and understandable consequence of Democrats’ decision to put partisan obstruction ahead of the national interest,” McConnell said. “I urge my Democratic colleagues to quickly get serious, put partisanship aside, and work with the president and our homeland security experts to provide the funding needed to secure our borders as we begin the next round of appropriations.”
Congress this week gave Trump access to $1.375 billion to build a steel slat border fence, but Trump was pushing for $5.7 billion. His emergency declaration is aimed at giving him access to about $6.6 billion more, although Trump’s action is widely expected to be challenged in court.
