House Republicans Add Funding For Trump's Border Wall In Homeland Security Budget

The House Appropriations Committee released a homeland security budget Tuesday that includes funding for President Donald Trumps promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The $44.3 billion spending bill for fiscal year 2018 earmarks $1.6 billion to begin construction of the wall, including bollards and levee improvements. The bill also appropriates $100 million to hire 500 more U.S. Border Patrol agents, $131 million for new border technology and a $619 million increase for Immigration and Customs Enforcement above its 2017 appropriation.

Department of Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan told reporters earlier Tuesday that the agency needs additional money to build new barriers, although it is using existing funds for repairs and to construct prototypes for a new wall and fencing.

On the DHS side, its very clear that weve gotten a direction to secure the border, that a wall and barrier is part of that process along with people and technology, and that funding from Congress is required for us to move forward on that, Lapan said.

Building the wall, which studies have estimated will cost anywhere from $10 billion to nearly $70 billion to complete, was one of Trumps signature promises as a presidential candidate.

On the campaign trail, Trump frequently vowed he would make Mexico pay for the wall . But by January, he had changed his tune , admitting that U.S. taxpayers would have to foot the bill, at least initially.

The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Donald J. Trump","author_url":"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump","cache_age":86400,"description":"The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Donald J. Trump on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/817329823374831617","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5965360be4b09b587d6305f4","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/house-republicans-border-wall_n_5965360be4b09b587d6305f4","entryTagsList":"donald-trump,republican-politics,united-states-department-of-homeland-security,homeland-security,government-spending,us-mexico-border,united-states-border-patrol,donald-trump-border-wall,united-states-house-committee-on-appropriations,@genassign,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"latino-voices","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":11},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5965360be4b09b587d6305f4","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump"},"relegenceId":2789214,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"Republican Politics","slug":"republican-politics","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/republican-politics","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-politics","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/republican-politics"},"relegenceSubjectId":4944927,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Republican Party","slug":"republican-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/republican-party"},{"name":"United States Department of Homeland Security","slug":"united-states-department-of-homeland-security","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/united-states-department-of-homeland-security","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-department-of-homeland-security","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-department-of-homeland-security"},"relegenceId":3461192,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Homeland Security","slug":"homeland-security","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/homeland-security"},{"name":"Homeland Security","slug":"homeland-security","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/homeland-security","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/homeland-security","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/homeland-security"},"relegenceId":4307039,"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Politics and National Security","slug":"politics-and-national-security","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/politics-and-national-security"},{"name":"government spending","slug":"government-spending","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/government-spending","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/government-spending","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/government-spending"},"relegenceSubjectId":4941759,"url":"https://action.news/topic/government-spending"},{"name":"U.S.-Mexico Border","slug":"us-mexico-border","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/us-mexico-border","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/us-mexico-border","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/us-mexico-border"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Latino Voices","slug":"latino-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Border Patrol","slug":"border-patrol","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/border-patrol"},{"name":"United States Border Patrol","slug":"united-states-border-patrol","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/united-states-border-patrol","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-border-patrol","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-border-patrol"},"relegenceId":3643170,"url":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-border-patrol"},{"name":"Donald Trump border wall","slug":"donald-trump-border-wall","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/donald-trump-border-wall","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump-border-wall","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/donald-trump-border-wall"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/donald-trump"},{"name":"United States House Committee on Appropriations","slug":"united-states-house-committee-on-appropriations","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/united-states-house-committee-on-appropriations","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-house-committee-on-appropriations","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-house-committee-on-appropriations"},"relegenceId":3618961,"url":"https://action.news/topic/united-states-house-committee-on-appropriations"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017

In March, Trump asked Congress for $4.1 billion to build the wall. Lawmakers, however, did not include that funding in the latest government spending bill.

The GOP-crafted budget would have to pass the full House and get approval in the Senate, where Democrats and even some Republican lawmakers have previously expressed skepticism over the project. But, as Politico reports , the White House and some conservative Republicans are willing to threaten a government shutdown in order to secure funding for the wall.

With or without congressional funding, DHS is planning to start construction with its existing budget later this summer.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has previously said hes not sure what the wall will look like or how much it will cost. But in recent weeks, Trump has touted a proposal to build the wall with solar panels attached, which he claimed could be used to partially offset the cost of its construction.

Elise Foley contributed reporting.