Of the still widely controversial issue of funding for the wall, President Donald Trump scrambles to push his agendas forward to meet and uphold his promises for increased border protection. However, with Democrats within Congress blocking his actions, this promise may not occur anytime soon as the Democratic bulwark against Trump’s proposed funding creates a greater divide within and between Congress and the President.

The funding for the wall that Trump has been pushing for has been blocked by Democrats on reasons that this policy will negatively impact the middle class due to the high cost and maintenance, as well as the fact that American taxpayers instead of Mexicans will be paying for this construction. The policies that he plans on cutting funds from include programs like medical research, infrastructure, community grants as well as other areas would be drastically cut in order to meet the costs for funding the wall. As a result, the Democrats who support such programs are adamant in supporting the President and his proposed policies while the Republicans, on the other hand, favor Trump’s agenda as they believe the benefits outweigh the costs.

However, a perspective taken by some Republicans is that the wall that Trump pushed for should not be taken literally. “There will never be a 2,200-mile wall built, period. I think it’s become symbolic of better border security. It’s a code word for better border security,”  Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) told the Washington Post. Due to this perspective, some supporters have fallen off of Trump’s support and expressed disappointment due to not fully meeting his promise of the scale of the wall. “There is no funding for it because it was a lie. It’s not going to get built,” said senior Danny Sands, a Republican.

The main conflict for cooperation occurs, however, in the Senate as Republicans are tight-pressed to appease the Democrats as the threat of a filibuster creates the need for compromise unlike in the House where the Republicans are free to push their legislations through with more ease in comparison. This could change if the rule of the required amount of votes for a filibuster requiring 51 votes is changed to 60 votes in order to halt the threat of a bill from being obstructed which would allow more bills and policy to be passed despite Democrats’ dissent.

Though Trump struggles to push his agenda for funding the wall, he may still have a chance for funding the wall despite the Democrats’ willingness. With this, the Republicans would have a major advantage in legislation and policy, such as funds for increased border protection, would be much easier to pass if the proposed rule change over the filibuster comes to pass. However, it is still uncertain whether Trump will have enough backing for this rule change as well as support for the wall due to the fall-off from supporters and ardent protests from Democrats alike.