White House Asks Congress for $4.5 Billion in Emergency Spending for Border
White House Asks Congress for $4.5 Billion in Emergency Spending for Border by Erica Werner – Washington Post
The White House sent Congress a $4.5 billion emergency spending request for the border on Wednesday, citing an unfolding “humanitarian and security crisis” as record numbers of Central American families seek entrance into the United States.
The request includes $3.3 billion for humanitarian assistance and $1.1 billion for border operations, and represents a dramatic escalation of the administration’s efforts to address the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The money would be in addition to the more than $8 billion that President Trump sought in his budget request, as well as some $6 billion in funding he sought through his declaration of a national emergency at the border.
Democrats are certain to look skeptically at the new request, which comes as Trump prepares to run for re-election on a hardline immigration agenda. It also comes as Congress in the midst of a fight over a different emergency spending bill, for disaster aid…