Trump administration requests $5 billion for 'steel barrier'

Donald Trump.
(Image credit: Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images)

On Sunday, Office of Management and Budget Acting Director Russell Vought sent congressional leaders a letter requesting $5 billion for a "steel barrier on the Southwest border," saying the White House believes a "physical barrier — wall — creates an enduring capability that helps field personnel stop, slow down, and/or contain illegal entries."

The Trump administration also asked for $800 million for "urgent humanitarian needs." Negotiations to end the partial government shutdown, now more than two weeks old, went nowhere over the weekend, as President Trump continues to demand money for a border wall; Democrats have called the wall immoral and say other border security measures would actually work.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.