Sean Spicer touts spending bill as a win for Trump

Trump has come under fire by some on the right for backing down on money appropriated specifically for construction of wall along the southwestern U.S. border. Democrats vowed to block the omnibus funding bill if money for the wall was included, even at risk of a government shutdown.

Additionally, the bipartisan package funding the remainder of fiscal year 2017, maintained money for Planned Parenthood and sanctuary cities that defy federal immigration law, which had some GOP lawmakers say many Republicans wouldn’t vote for the bill.

But White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the document was a “down payment” on Trump’s priorities and offered assurances that the White House would fight for more this summer in the spending bill for fiscal 2018.

“The president got a lot out of this bill,” Spicer said. “We’re talking about 2017 funding, most presidents would have walked into office and that would have been done.”

The lack of funding for the wall is a particular sore point for conservatives, but Spicer stressed that Trump would pursue that in the coming months.

“Make no mistake, the wall is going to be built,” he said. “The president has made it very clear. We have five months left in this fiscal year, we’re getting $1.52 billion for border security, there’s a lot that can be done with that.”

“This is a downpayment on 2017, and as we get ready for fiscal year 2018 that will start in the beginning of October, this will be a major priority,” he added.

Spicer noted that the bill included money for border security, public school vouchers for public schools in Washington, D.C., and healthcare for coal miners. Plus, it didn’t include any money for Obamacare subsidies sought by Democrats. The administration has said it will cover the subsidies administratively for the time being.

Spicer added that a major victory for Republicans is a nearly $20 billion increase for the Defense Department, which Trump has cited as a priority.