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FIRST ON FOX: Senator Lindsey Graham is determined to secure funding for President Donald Trump’s border security initiatives despite facing opposition from fellow Senate Republican, Senator Rand Paul. Paul advocates for a significant reduction in spending, proposing to cut the allocated funds in half.
The South Carolina senator, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, presented the Senate’s plan designed to address Trump’s border security objectives. This plan allocates billions toward constructing a wall along the Southern border, enhancing the capacity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) detention facilities, and increasing hiring for Border Patrol agents, among other initiatives.
Graham’s advance is part of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s $128.4 billion bill. This legislation aims to fulfill the majority of the administration’s financial request for border security, which has sparked considerable debate within the Republican Party.
Senator Rand Paul, the chair of the committee, has expressed reservations concerning the bill’s hefty price tag, prompting White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller to convene a private meeting with Senate Republicans. The goal of the meeting was to defend the proposal’s financial demands.
Graham stated, “As Budget Chairman, I will do my utmost to ensure that the President’s border security plan is fully funded. I believe it has been thoroughly justified. While I respect Chairman Paul’s viewpoint, I must disagree with his proposal to slash the Trump plan by over 50 percent.”
He added, “The President has made a commitment to secure our border. His plan is crucial to fulfilling that promise. The Senate must uphold its responsibilities in this matter.”
The Homeland Security Committee’s funding proposal covers the bulk of the White House’s ambitious $150 billion request, although additional funds will likely come from the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees.
Graham’s bill largely mirrors the version put forth by the House GOP. It earmarks $46.5 billion for the wall and related infrastructure, $4.1 billion for hiring new Border Patrol agents, and $2 billion in retention and signing bonuses for these agents. Additional provisions include $5 billion for enhancements to Border Patrol facilities, $855 million for the repair of the Border Patrol vehicle fleet, and $45 billion to expand ICE’s detention capacity. These resources also extend to $6 billion earmarked for improving border surveillance and another $10 billion designated for state reimbursements for border security measures implemented during the Biden administration.
Paul, who opted not to attend Miller’s meeting, criticized the White House for presenting inflated costs without a solid foundation. He suggested that certain components, such as the extensive funding allocated for wall construction, could be significantly reduced to approximately $6.5 billion when analyzing the cost per mile of construction.
In a presentation to the Senate GOP on Wednesday, he mentioned that several senators support his stance. Paul remarked on his exclusion from the bill’s drafting process, stating that Senate leadership chose to bypass him as the chair of the committee, citing differences in opinion.
He explained, “Senator Graham appears to be focused on executing the President’s directives, while I’m committed to pursuing what I believe represents responsible fiscal management. Thus, our objectives diverge considerably.”
Currently, Senate Republicans are working diligently to craft their iteration of the House GOP’s extensive budget blueprint. They aim to employ the budget reconciliation process to facilitate a comprehensive bill that promotes Trump’s policies across various sectors, including taxes, immigration, energy, and national defense. Additionally, they seek to tackle the staggering national debt, which approaches $37 trillion, hoping to reduce federal spending by approximately $1.5 trillion.
However, whatever legislative proposal emerges from the Senate will require approval from the House before reaching the President’s desk.
Miller’s session with Senate Republicans was crucial for consolidating support surrounding the proposed funding and addressing ongoing concerns from fiscal conservatives who advocate for stringent spending cuts in the reconciliation discussions.
Senator Markwayne Mullin from Oklahoma praised Miller following the meeting, but noted that some lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction and others were reluctant to engage in the conversation.
Mullin commented, “Senator Paul’s strategy appears to be to halve everything and consider it adequate. This is not genuine budgeting.”
Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin acknowledged the frustration among colleagues seeking a detailed breakdown of proposed funding and dismissed claims that the meeting became contentious. He stated, “It is impossible to accurately predict the administration’s requirements to rectify the significant challenges left by the previous administration.”
With urgency, Johnson remarked, “We may find we require even more resources to tackle this monumental issue. While we are unlikely to increase the proposed figures, we cannot afford to underfund these initiatives.”
He emphasized, “The complications we face demand significant financial commitment, and we must ensure this administration is prepared to address the situation comprehensively.”
