Status of Border Wall Funding and Remaining FY19 Appropriations Bills

Talk has turned to Congress passing another continuing resolution (CR) funding the remaining seven FY19 appropriations bills through December 14. The current CR expires on December 7. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) said that some in Congress are pushing for a long-term CR through next September. But this may just be “talk” designed to increase political pressure for a final spending deal as a full-year homeland security CR would provide only $1.57B for the border wall (the amount from the FY18 Homeland Security appropriations bill).

This week Republicans proposed a plan that would provide $5B over two years for the President’s border wall – $2.5B in FY19 and $2.5B in FY20. Democrats have rejected this proposal. The Senate Homeland appropriations bill includes $1.6B for the wall compared to the House bill, which includes $5B (the President’s FY19 requested amount). President Trump told Republican leaders that he is adamant about getting $5B in FY19 as a down payment on the wall, and that he would veto any measure that provides only $1.6B for it.

Another obstacle could come from Senate Democrats, who are pushing to include a provision in the final spending bill to protect special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation from interference, if Republican leaders don’t allow a vote on a separate bill.