White House scrambles for money to build Donald Trump’s border wall
- Trump administration eyeing disaster funds and military cash, officials say
If US President Donald Trump declares an emergency to build the wall with Mexico, he still needs money to pay for it. And shifting money from other accounts to deliver the US$5.7 billion he wants is not without political problems.
The administration has been eyeing several pots of money – including disaster funds, counter-narcotic accounts and military construction dollars – to fund Trump’s wall, according to congressional aides and White House officials.
White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has said there are various accounts available.
One possibility is shifting a portion of the US$13 billion in disaster aid Congress approved last year for Puerto Rico and a dozen states, including California and Texas, hit hard by hurricanes, flooding and other disasters. The money funds Army Corps projects, and the Puerto Rico aid alone totals more than US$2 billion.
But Texas lawmakers revolted over White House plans to tap Hurricane Harvey funds, and Republican Senator John Cornyn said on Thursday they won assurances from the White House the money will not be used for the wall.