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The
so-called "minibus" appropriations bill includes nearly $675
billion in spending for the Department of Defense, as well as
about $182 billion for an array of domestic programs under the
departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and
related agencies.
Congressional aides said the Senate combined the two bills in
the hope that President Donald Trump would not veto the domestic
spending measure.
Trump has threatened to shut down the government if Congress,
which is controlled by his fellow Republicans, does not adhere
to his spending priorities, especially his desire to spend
billions of dollars to build a wall on the border with Mexico.
On Wednesday, his administration announced its position on the
bill. While not threatening a veto, the "Statement of
Administration Policy" noted that the bill does not include
administration proposals to reduce spending in areas such as
education and healthcare research.
It also balks at some defense spending reductions, including a
$532 million reduction in Afghanistan security funding and a
$406 million cut to a fund to train and equip U.S. partner
forces in Iraq and Syria for the fight against Islamic State.
Trump has threatened a government shutdown several times since
taking office in 2017 in a bid to get his immigration priorities
in congressional spending bills, especially funding for a wall
along the southern U.S. border. Trump has asked for $25 billion
to build the wall.
Congress must agree on a spending measure to fund the government
by a Sept. 30 deadline, or the federal government will be forced
to suspend all but the most essential operations.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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