Trump’s desire for border wall funding leaves the path forward for Congress unclear. As House Republicans tried to head off conservative members’ rebellion against the spending bill earlier Thursday, both House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer flatly said Democrats would not approve money for the barrier.
Ryan, standing next to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, said the leaders are “going to go back to the House and work with our members” on a solution that includes border security funding. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise later said the House aims to add $5 billion in wall money, as well as disaster relief funding, to the Senate-passed measure, according to Reuters.
It is unclear what spending plan would pass Congress and get Trump’s signature, at this point. Even if the GOP-controlled House approves border wall money, Democrats would likely sink the proposal in the Senate.
Pelosi and her caucus supported the short-term spending bill that Trump said he would not sign. Earlier Thursday, she called wall money a “nonstarter.” If all Democrats support the Senate-passed measure, it would only need limited Republican votes to get through the House.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to shut down the government if Congress does not pass money for the wall, a key campaign promise that he claimed Mexico would fund. Last week, the president said he would be “proud” to close parts of the government if lawmakers did not approve funding for the barrier.
House GOP leaders hoped to pass the short-term spending bill and push the next immigration fight to February, when Democrats will control the House and Pelosi will likely be speaker. But they could not assure skeptical caucus members that Trump would sign the bill into law.
Conservative Trump allies in the House Freedom Caucus agitated for Trump not to give up the wall fight. Two of the members of the hardline group — Reps. Mark Meadows and Jim Jordan — were reportedly attending the White House meeting along with House Republican leaders.
This story is developing. Check back for updates.
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