Hours after veto threat, Trump signs spending bill, avoiding government shutdown
WASHINGTON — Hours after threatening a veto that would have triggered a government shutdown, President Trump signed a major spending bill after all Friday in order to preserve increases in defense spending.
While criticizing the plan’s relative lack of funding for a border wall and failure to address an immigration program for children, Trump described the military increases as essential to national security.
“My highest duty is to keep America safe,” Trump said.
He added, “there’s a lot of things I’m unhappy about, and I will never sign another bill like this again.” He again called for an end to the filibuster rule that allows the minority party to block items unless they receive 60 votes — a maneuver the Democrats used to extract concessions from Trump and the Republicans in this bill.
News conference at the White House concerning the Omnibus Spending Bill. 1:00 P.M.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2018
Trump announced a prospective veto and then changed his mind amid mass confusion among his staff, and Republican lawmakers; it was unclear whether Trump would take questions at a quickly called “news conference.”
Trump also balked at the overall $1.3 trillion price tag of the bill — “that number is so large” — but said “we had no choice but to fund our military.”
He also vowed to keep pushing for funding of an anti-migration wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
In a surprise tweet earlier on Friday, Trump cited a lack of funding for the proposed wall, as well as the failure to address a program for children whose parents brought them into the country illegally.
“I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded,” Trump tweeted.
Trump reversed course after a series of meetings at the White House, including one with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, who supported signing the bill because of its military provisions.
The veto tweet no doubt surprised Republican congressional leaders, who thought they had secured Trump’s approval earlier this week.Â
I am considering a VETO of the Omnibus Spending Bill based on the fact that the 800,000 plus DACA recipients have been totally abandoned by the Democrats (not even mentioned in Bill) and the BORDER WALL, which is desperately needed for our National Defense, is not fully funded.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2018
More: Senate passes sweeping $1.3 trillion spending bill, sending it to Trump’s desk
With neither House or Senate in session today, the response from members of Congress took the form of a cascade of tweets.
One of the first to respond. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., encouraged Trump to veto the bill.
“I am just down the street and will bring you a pen,” Corker said. “The spending levels without any offsets are grotesque, throwing all of our children under the bus. Totally irresponsible.”
Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, joined Corker’s call for Trump to veto the bill.
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Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the assistant majority leader, offered his own criticism of Democrats but added that the omnibus spending bill contained many positives.
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland offered these reminders to Trump.Â
Many Republicans object to Trump’s call to end the filibuster, saying it would protects the rights of their party when they have been in the Senate minority.
Less than 24 hours before Trump’s tweet, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said the president would sign the bill, despite some misgivings.
It’s unclear whether Congress could even make changes at this point before midnight, when the current government spending plan expires. That would trigger a shutdown.
Funding for the border wall has been a major source of contention between Trump and Democrats who don’t think it is necessary. As has the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which would shield the children of undocumented immigrants from deportation.