The crowdfunding campaign that's raised more than $11.5 million for President Donald Trump's border wall may have to issue refunds to everyone who donated because of government rules around donations, according to a new report.
Four days after retired Air Force Senior Airman Brian Kolfage, who lost both of his legs and part of his right arm in a 2004 blast in Iraq, launched the GoFundMe page to raise money for the wall, the campaign has taken in nearly $12 million. But according to the New York Post, government regulations around donations from private citizens could prevent Kolfage from directing where the money goes.
"I think it's admirable, and I think that the country should respond," Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., told the Post. "Obviously, we can't let citizens raise money and say, 'The government will spend my money on this purpose.'"
The Post cited a Treasury Department rule that said donations to the federal government land into a fund labeled "Gifts to the United States" and are for "general use." Some agencies can overrule that and direct the money to go elsewhere, but it's not known if the Department of Homeland Security — which needs the money to build the wall — is one of those agencies.
Kolfage set the GoFundMe goal at $1 billion, which he said is the highest number allowed by the website. He told Fox News Thursday night that regardless of whether or not Congress funds the wall, he will continue his fundraising effort.
"No matter what Congress does, if they pass this through, we're not stopping. We're gonna keep pushing this through, we're gonna see what the Senate does, we're gonna see how this plays out," he said.
On the GoFundMe page, Kolfage wrote that he is working with attorneys and members of Congress to ensure that the money raised goes toward the construction of a wall.
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