The Senate passed, on February 14, a compromise package to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. President Donald Trump signed it, which resulted to ending what would be a second government shutdown. Amongst other results, the announcement means that the USCG members will most likely continue receiving pay, along with federal employees.
Due to the government shutdown, USCG members lost their paycheck on January 15. Yet, after an agreement between President Donald Trump and the leaders of the House and Senate and the federal government has been funded through February 15. As a result, USCG families were provided with two additional pay periods in case of another shutdown.
Specifically, the package that was decided includes important funding for deep-sea ports, according to the American Association of Port Authorities.
Also, the package provides:
- $290 million for MARAD’s Port Infrastructure Development Program;
- A significant allocation for USDOT’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program;
- A large increase in Customs and Border Protection personnel;
- A $12 million increase in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emission Reduction Act grants program;
- An increase in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Navigation, Observations and Positioning program.
However, despite the package, President Trump seems unsatisfied with it since the proposal only includes $1.375 billion for border barriers and increases other border security funding, in comparison with the $5.7 billion Trump had demanded to make his signature campaign promise a reality.
The president’s announcement met opposition from Democratic leadership and from many members of the president’s party, particularly in the Senate. Republican Senators Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chuck Grassley, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Pat Toomey all voiced objections; however, Senate majority leader Sen. Mitch McConnell said Thursday that the conference would support Trump’s decision.
