WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump is considering attaching an increase in the U.S. debt limit to an initial request to Congress for disaster relief funding of $5.95 billion for Hurricane Harvey, two administration officials said.
The White House request, which could come as soon as Friday, would include $5.5 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the remainder to the Small Business Administration. The request is being prepared primarily to cover funding demands through the Sept. 30 end of the federal fiscal year, according to the officials, who described the matter on condition of anonymity.
Administration officials already have begun talks with congressional leaders about the approach, which is intended to ease early passage of a debt limit increase and avoid a standoff over the issue that could rattle financial markets, one of the officials said.
The White House would like to extend the debt limit long enough to move back the threat of a U.S. default until after Congress can deal with funding for the full federal fiscal year and tax legislation the Trump administration backs, one of the officials said.
Trump also would like to de-couple the debt limit from a potential fight in Congress over funding for a border wall that risks a government shutdown, according to one of the officials. The president would prefer to move the issue back far enough so that fight could be waged either when lawmakers consider an expected temporary funding package in September or a full-year funding package later.
