Democrats using veterans bill to try to block border wall

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats controlling the House are trying to use a popular veterans measure to block President Donald Trump from transferring $3.6 billion from military base construction to build his long-sought wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The move faces certain opposition from Trump and a potential veto threat. Lawmakers often try to use essential spending bills to reverse presidential moves, but they are usually unsuccessful.

The $108 billion measure funding veterans benefits and improvements to military bases is perhaps the most popular funding bill to annually advance through Congress.

Trump roiled Capitol Hill in February by invoking emergency powers to transfer the money after being denied his full $5.7 billion wall request as Congress considered a catchall spending bill in the wake of a 35-day partial government shutdown.