McConnell Says $118 Billion Military Aid and Border Bill Will ‘Not Become Law’

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said Tuesday that the $118 billion military aid and border bill unveiled over the weekend will likely “not become law” due to GOP opposition.

“We had a very robust discussion about whether or not this product could ever become law,” McConnell said after meeting with Republican senators. “And it’s been made pretty clear to us by the speaker that it will not become law.”

A day earlier, The Associated Press reported McConnell recommended to GOP senators that they vote against the first procedural vote on the bill that’s expected to happen on Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said the bill is dead on arrival and is looking to push forward a stand-alone resolution to give Israel more military aid to support the slaughter in Gaza.

The Republican opposition to the $118 billion bill is over the border policies. Senate negotiators spent months working on a border deal for the legislation, but Johnson said the House was left out.

Democrats are blaming the Republican opposition on former President Donald Trump, who has expressed he’s against the legislation. “Leader McConnell and the Republican Conference did a 180-degree reversal,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “They’re quaking at the knees in fear of Donald Trump.”

The spending bill includes $60 billion for the proxy war in Ukraine, about $14 billion for Israel, $4.8 for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region, and $2.44 billion for US Central Command and President Biden’s new war against the Houthis in Yemen. It also includes $20 billion for border spending.