President Donald Trump is looking into using military funding on his promised border wall with Mexico, according to media reports.
Trump raised the idea in a meeting with House Speaker Paul Ryan, sources told The Washington Post and CNN. Trump was frustrated the recent funding bill only included $1.6 billion for border security — of which only $641 million can be used to build new fencing.
But that bill gave the Pentagon a budget boost, and Trump reportedly wants to reallocate some of it for his border wall. He's called the wall necessary for national security.
Because of the $700 & $716 Billion Dollars gotten to rebuild our Military, many jobs are created and our Military is again rich. Building a great Border Wall, with drugs (poison) and enemy combatants pouring into our Country, is all about National Defense. Build WALL through M!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 25, 2018
Trump failed to negotiate a deal with Democrats to secure $25 billion for his border wall in exchange for protections for so-called Dreamers.
But Congress would have to approve whatever funds Trump wants to use, and it doesn't seem likely he could whip up enough votes to make that happen.