Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) said today that President Trump will sign a border security bill to avert another government shutdown and declare a national emergency to build the border wall.
“He’s prepared to sign the bill, he will also be issuing a national emergency declaration at the same time,” said McConnell. “I’ve indicated to him that I’m going to support the national emergency declaration.”
The Senate passed the border bill 83-16 and it now heads to the House for a vote.
BREAKING: Pres. Trump will sign compromise spending bill, will also issue national emergency declaration, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says. https://t.co/9Gy1J1gLOg pic.twitter.com/9t9ihN5FNo
— ABC News (@ABC) February 14, 2019
Before the Senate vote, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the President was prepared to sign the bill.
In a statement, Sanders said, “President Trump will sign the government funding bill, and as he has stated before, he will also take other executive action — including a national emergency — to ensure we stop the national security and humanitarian crisis at the border. The president is once again delivering on his promise to build the wall, protect the border, and secure our great country.
Lawmakers have until 11:59 p.m. Friday to get the agreement through both houses of Congress and signed by Trump before several Cabinet-level departments shut down and hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed in what would be the second partial government shutdown this year.
Sanders told reporters at the White House there will be announcement later about where the money will come from and how they allocate it. She said the White House is working on those details.
Asked if they were afraid of legal challenges, Sarah said, “We are very prepared but there shouldn’t be. The president is doing his job and Congress should do theirs.”
