Donald Trump expected to ask Congress for extra $8.6 billion for border wall in budget
Donald Trump is on Monday expected to request an extra $8.6 billion (£6.6 billion) to fund his border wall with Mexico, setting the scene for another showdown with Democrats as he continues to attempt to fulfill his signature campaign pledge.
The US president will reportedly ask Congress for the extra money when he unveils his 2020 federal budget blueprint.
If approved, the money would be in addition to the $8 billion he has already secured, in part, by declaring a national emergency on the border.
According to the Washington Post, the president is seeking $5 billion in funding for the Department of Homeland Security to continue building sections of the structure and another $3.6 billion for the Defence Department’s military construction budget.
Funds would also be allocated to hire more than 2,800 law enforcement and support personnel for the agencies, and 100 immigration judge teams.
To balance the books, Mr Trump will propose slashing domestic and international programmes including foreign aid, environmental protection and transportation, according to various American news outlets.
Larry Kudlow, the president's top economic adviser, revealed on Sunday that the US leader wanted to see a five per cent cut on all domestic spending.
Asked whether another budget battle was on the horizon, he said: “I suppose there will be. I would just say that the whole issue of the wall, of border security, is of paramount importance. We have a crisis down there. I think the president has made that case very effectively.
"It will be a tough budget... (Trump) is going to stay with his wall. He’s going to stay with the border security theme. I think it’s essential."
The news comes just weeks after the end of the longest government shutdown in history after Mr Trump asked for $5 billion for the wall.
The Democrats blocking the public spending, believing the wall to be as an unnecessary and immoral. Mr Trump managed to get the money by sequestering it from budgets from other departments.
Congress has until September to agree a new budget deal, but with Democrats controlling the House of Representatives, it seems inconceivable that Mr Trump's request will be met, sparking the potential for another lengthy shutdown as America gears up for the 2020 election.
Mr Trump has pledged to build or replace 722 miles of barrier along the border to stem the flow of illegal immigration, which in total is estimated to cost about $18 billion.
So far, only 111 miles have been built or are underway. An anonymous administration source told Reuters: “It (the budget proposal) gives the president the ability to say he has fulfilled his commitment to gain operational control of the southwest border.
“We have provided the course of action, the strategy and the request to finish the job. It’s a question of, will Congress allow us to finish the job.” a second administration official said.
