WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump says he will spend about $8 billion to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s a far greater sum than the roughly $1.4 billion Congress set aside for that purpose in legislation Trump is expected to sign to prevent another partial government shutdown.
Trump has declared a national emergency on the southern border and is using his executive authority to go around Congress and siphon money from other government accounts.
Here’s a breakdown of the $8 billion, according to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney:
-$1.375 billion included in the government funding bill awaiting Trump’s signature.
-$3.6 billion from military construction funds.
-$2.5 billion from Defense Department counterdrug activities.
-$600 million from the Treasury Department’s asset forfeiture fund.
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