White House Security Plan Faces GOP Scrutiny as CBP Pulls Back on Big Bend Border Wall
There is growing skepticism among Senate Republicans over the $1 billion proposed White House security upgrade, even as overall funding talks move forward on the $72 billion reconciliation bill to provide money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other law enforcement agencies.
Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with Republican senators and pitched them on the need to spend $1 billion in security enhancements for the East Wing ballroom and White House grounds. That’s about several times higher than earlier estimates.
“It was one thing when private dollars were building it. If you’re asking me for a billion dollars, I have some really hard questions,” said Senator John Curtis (R-UT) after attending the lunch.
Director Curran reportedly told senators that 20 percent of the $1 billion would go to securing the ballroom, with the rest going to other Secret Service priorities including a new White House visitor screening facility, better protection for federal officials, and Secret Service officer training.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) predicted his caucus will eventually get behind the legislation.
“Most of our members are prepared to support the funding for the Secret Service that’s needed to enable them to do their jobs,” said Senator Thune.
Senator Thune said the reconciliation package could be put up for a floor vote in the Senate the week of May 18.
CBP Backs Off Border Wall in Big Bend National Park
The debate over funding immigration enforcement agencies comes as CBP backed off plans to build portions of the border wall through Big Bend National Park in Texas.
The decision came after pushback from Texas residents and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, who said the project would disturb the ecological balance and destroy the area’s landscape.
Instead of a wall in that section, CBP will pave roads along that part of the border and use drones and other digital surveillance equipment.
“Big Bend National Park has some just, like, unbelievably huge granite cliffs. It would be kind of silly to put like a 30-foot border wall on top of a 90-foot granite cliff,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. “So what we’re trying to convey is that we are going to have meaningful border security in that entire area.”
