President Trump will unveil his fiscal 2020 budget request to Congress, calling for $2.7 trillion in spending cuts and balances in 15 years.
The spending plan seeks to boost border security and immigration enforcement to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border. Despite the strong opposition from House Democrats which led to a 35-day partial government shutdown that stretched from just before Christmas until the end of January, Trump plans to request an additional $8.6 billion for the border wall, according to reports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have already warned in a statement that pursuit of additional border wall funding in his fiscal 2020 budget proposal will only lead to another government shutdown. The president’s budget also calls for increases in the workforce for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, as well as policy changes to end sanctuary cities.
Another key priority of Trump’s budget is reportedly to combat the opioid epidemic. The fiscal blueprint envisions continued investments in prevention, treatment, research, and recovery. It also calls for the creation of new platforms “for delivering services to the American people” as part of the administration’s efforts to modernize the federal government.
Trump’s spending plan also requires colleges and universities “to share a portion of the financial responsibility associated with federal student loans”; allocates $80 billion for veterans — a 10 percent boost from fiscal 2019; and provides investments “in the capabilities and domains critical to future conflicts,” including space, artificial intelligence, and hypersonics.
The president is to present his fiscal year 2020 budget request to Congress on Monday morning.