The Pentagon notified Congress on Monday evening that it had transferred $1 billion of its budget to the Department of Homeland Security for new border wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border, CNN reported.
The money will go toward building 57 miles of new fencing, as well as other security measures along the Uma and El Paso portions of the border. The move was made as part of President Trump’s national emergency declaration made to diverge funds from other areas to build his pet-project border wall. The move was roundly criticized and rejected by both the House and the Senate, but Trump vetoed the measure meant to block the emergency declaration.
The transfer of funds sparked immediate uproar from Democrats, who sent a letter to acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan objecting to the transfer and expressing “serious concern” that the Defense Department was bending to “political interference,” according to CNN.
How is this legal? The republicans would be screaming bloody murder if a democrat moved 1 BILLION dollars from the Pentagon.
Great. It sets the precedent for a Democrat to move $ billions from Pentagon budget into an actual Emergency like Climate Change.
Holler, scream, stamp our feet, this is the pivot. It is going to be one hell of a ride. I hope we survive.
This clear violation of the Constitution is the biggest danger to our continuing as a functioning democratic republic.
If the President now controls the pursestrings, there is nothing stopping him.
Republicans are doing more damage to our country than our worst enemies have ever dreamed of accomplishing.
I was just abut to say that the Pentagon has now become a piggy bank. Hope the next Dem POTUS uses it wisely.