According to the Associated Press, President Donald Trump on Friday reallocated $1.5 billion in funds that are supposed to be used to support our armed forces in Afghanistan so he can use the money for his wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, even though construction of that structure will likely be tied up in the courts for years.
This is just the latest diversion of funds from the military budget for the purpose of Trump’s racist wall project:
Congress was notified of the move Friday. It follows the Pentagon’s decision in March to transfer $1 billion from Army personnel budget accounts to support wall construction. Some lawmakers have been highly critical of the Pentagon shifting money not originally authorized for border security.
The $1.5 billion reallocated this week by Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, was to be used for security forces in Afghanistan, where the U.S. still has some 5,000 soldiers:
The funds, which Shanahan claimed would have a “minimal impact on force readiness,” include $604 million from the Afghan Security Forces Fund, which supports the Afghan army and other security forces fighting the Taliban; $251 million from a project to destroy chemical weapons; $344 million from a group of Air Force programs; and $224 million from a military retirement system.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the president’s move on Twitter:
Today, the Defense Department will divert another $1.5 billion from our military to the “big & beautiful” border wall. The Pentagon has now reprogrammed 12 times more money to the wall than for repairs at Tyndall AFB, destroyed by Hurricane Michael. We should put troops first!
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) May 10, 2019
Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) accused Trump of having abandoned his duties in order to fund his wall:
“Once again, the president has shamefully ignored his oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and stolen $1.5 billion in Pentagon funds to pay for his ineffective border wall.”
Trump has claimed that the wall is almost completely built, which is nothing but a bold-faced lie he uses to curry favor with his supporters as he gears up for a difficult re-election battle in 2020.
Featured Image Via Twitter
