Trump challenges Congress: Get spending done or skip August recess

President Trump challenged Congress on Saturday to get a funding deal done before they recess in August or “not go home.” 

“The Senate should get funding done before the August break, or NOT GO HOME,” Trump tweeted. “Wall and Border Security should be included. Also waiting for approval of almost 300 nominations, worst in history. Democrats are doing everything possible to obstruct, all they know how to do. STAY!”

Congress faces an end-of-September deadline to pass another funding bill or risk a third government shutdown this year. 

Conservative leaders last week made a similar push to put pressure on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to keep Senate in session longer during the week or to delay the August recess in order to catch up on funding demands and confirming Trump’s nominees.

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According to White House data, Trump has sent 774 nominations to the Senate, with 459 being confirmed so far.

The Partnership for Public Service and The Washington Post have found that the average length it takes for one of Trump’s presidential nominee to be confirmed is 84 days.

Some lawmakers are advocating for 12 individual appropriations bills, rather than one massive funding bill like the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill Trump signed earlier this year.

Trump vowed never again to sign a similar bill.

On Monday, Trump formally asked Congress to revoke $15 billion in spending, starting a 45-day clock for legislators to act.

Nearly half of that clawback would come from two accounts in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).