House passes spending bill with $1.6 billion border wall provision

The GOP-controlled House passed a spending bill Thursday that boosts military budgets and gives President Donald Trump $1.6 billion to build a wall along the southern U.S. border. The measure won approval 235-192, but it faces much stronger opposition in the Senate. While Democrats don’t like the idea of increasing military spending, they vehemently oppose the border wall and could force a government shutdown over the issue later this year. The $788 billion bill also includes a 5 percent increase for veterans program funding and a 2.4 percent military pay raise. Trump’s budget proposal requested more money for the Pentagon, but the House budget boosted his request with a $60 billion increase. The president proposed paying for it with cuts to domestic programs, but lawmakers significantly reduced those reductions. Senate Democrats want to increase domestic spending, and it’s not clear how they can resolve differences with their Republican colleagues to pass a final spending package.