House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows' comments makes it likelier that a congressional showdown over a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico will be put off until December. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP Freedom Caucus head opposes shutdown over wall, for now

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows said Wednesday that he and his allies will support short-term legislation to fund the government even if it excludes money for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall.

The stance is notable because the North Carolina Republican is a staunch ally of Trump.


"In talking to a number of my members, if there was a vote for a continuing resolution next week that did not include border wall funding, the majority of those members would be supportive of that," Meadows said in an interview on ABC’s “Powerhouse Politics” podcast. He emphasized that he's supportive of the wall but wants to avoid a shutdown fight amid federal relief efforts in Houston.

Meadows' comments makes it more likely that a congressional showdown over a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico will be put off until December, when Congress is expected to revisit measures to fund the government.

Meadows’ comments suggest Trump may have to resign himself to waiting three months to fight for wall funding. He suggested earlier this month that he is prepared for a showdown over paying for the wall, even if it were to lead to a government shutdown.

“If we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,” Trump thundered in Phoenix, at a campaign-style rally last week.

But a growing list of urgent fiscal priorities — including the likelihood that Congress may also send billions of dollars to hurricane-ravaged Houston — may force the wall’s most ardent backers to wait.

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In September, Congress is faced with a deadline to keep the government open and to lift the debt ceiling, another perennially difficult fight among various House factions. They’re also expected to begin dealing with tax reform, as well as other thorny priorities like reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration. GOP leaders have signaled that the likeliest path forward is a three-month funding bill that punts the budget fight into December.

Many Republicans had begun expressing uneasiness about the notion that a fight over the wall might close the federal government. For example, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) said while she's a “strong proponent” of border security, she doesn’t believe a physical wall is possible, or practical, in all areas.

“I don’t think we want to shut down government,” Fischer told the Omaha World Herald on Tuesday.

Speaker Paul Ryan, too, said during a televised town hall last week that he didn’t think Americans wanted a government shutdown.

“I don't think a government shutdown is necessary, and I don't think most people want to see a government shutdown, ourselves included," Ryan said at the event, which aired on CNN.

Trump has said he hopes a shutdown isn’t necessary but hasn’t ruled out vetoing government funding legislation that excludes wall funding money. He’s slated to meet with legislative leaders next Wednesday to discuss the September agenda.

Trump might have support for funding the wall from some Republicans facing pressure from the right.

“I’ve always supported the border wall,” Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), who is facing a primary challenge next year, told NBC this week. “I don’t see any practical reason why we ought to close the government. I think as Republicans we need to be reasonable and work with the president on this and make sure that he gets the funding he needs.”

In the podcast, Meadows also said he would be willing to back an emergency spending package for Hurricane Harvey relief — if it doesn’t become “a vehicle for special spending.”

The House Freedom Caucus is a potential roadblock to a relief package given the group’s staunch opposition to the 2012 aid to help parts of New York and New Jersey ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. They argued at the time that the measure funded too many extraneous programs and should have been paid for with spending cuts.

“As long as we keep the emergency relief really to support the people in need, whether they be in New York or Texas, I think you’ll find plenty of conservative support, and certainly my support,” Meadows said.

Burgess Everett contributed.