What was already a bad week for Democrats just got worse.
Not only did AG Barr embarrass party leaders like Adam Schiff, as well as their allies in the cable news media, when he revealed that Robert Mueller’s nearly two-year investigation into the Trump campaign had turned up zero evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but now, despite a spate of lawsuits and bipartisan resistance in Congress, Trump has received the first tranche of Pentagon funds that will be used to build more than 230 miles of the border wall – helping to fulfill one of his most popular campaign promises.
According to CNN, the Pentagon notified Congress Monday night that it had authorized $1 billion to begin construction of a new segment of the wall along the US-Mexico border. The notification elicited a wave of outrage from Democratic lawmakers.
The approved money will help build 57 miles of border fencing, improved roads, and other measures. Construction is expected to begin immediately.
Pentagon budget reprogramming notification sent to Capitol Hill on Monday and obtained by CNN indicates that up to $1 billion will go toward building 57 miles of fencing, improving roads and other measures on the southern border.
The Department of Defense authorized the Army Corp of Engineers to begin planning and construction for the project Monday night. The department will direct the funds toward 18-foot-high fencing along the Yuma and El Paso sections of the border, according to a letter acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan sent to Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen.
The money is part of about $2.5 billion from the Defense Department’s drug-interdiction program authorized by Trump’s emergency order. All told, the order reappropriated (Trump’s opponents would say ‘raided’) some $7 billion from various sources, which will instead be used for the wall.
Monday’s announcement was just the first $1 billion the administration is making available for wall funding. The administration said previously it plans to shift an additional $1.5 billion at some point in the future.
These initial counterdrug funds will ultimately flow from the Department of Homeland Security to the Army Corps of Engineers to begin construction.
Democratic members of the Senate Appropriations Committee objected to the transfer in a strongly worded letter.
Every Democratic senator on the Senate Appropriations Committee’s subcommittees on Defense and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies signed on to a letter written to Shanahan objecting to moving $1 billion in personnel funds to counter drug funds to go toward the wall. The senators say the Pentagon did not seek permission before notifying the committee of the transfer.
“We strongly object to both the substance of the funding transfer, and to the Department implementing the transfer without seeking the approval of the congressional defense committees and in violation of provisions in the defense appropriation itself,” the senators wrote.
“As a result, we have serious concerns that the Department has allowed political interference and pet projects to come ahead of many near-term, critical readiness issues facing our military.”
The letter was signed by Sens. Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont; Dick Durbin, Democrat of Illinois; Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island; Brian Schatz, Democrat of Hawaii; Jon Tester, Democrat of Montana; Patty Murray, Democrat of Washington; Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut; Tammy Baldwin, Democrat of Wisconsin; Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California; and Tom Udall, Democrat of New Mexico.
Unfortunately for them, that’s about all they can do, now that Trump has vetoed a resolution to terminate the emergency order.
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We are in this mess because of Democratic and make believe Republican lawmakers. Let the outrage come forth because the rest of the nation is already outraged over what is occurring.
making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out, who’ll pay a price, yellow vests are coming to town.
Santa Claus in the mall: What would you like for Christmas, young man?
Boy: A rifle would be swell, Santa.
A billion dollars for 57 lousy miles of wall. Wow.
—- Must be a gold plated wall …. like the fixtures in Barron Trump’s penthouse.
—- I wonder if the Invaders are smart enough to go to mile 58 to cross over.
Russia built a 37 mile wall for under $3 million.
—- I think maybe NOW is the time for Trump to collude with Russia.
—- It’s a beautiful wall. —- https://russia-insider.com/en/take-note-trump-russia-puts-wall-crimea-ukraine-border-video/ri25824
That’s not a wall, that’s a fence. Heck, Trump could buy the materials at Home Depot for chump change if he was going to build a cheap fence.
1960 – I propose we land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
2016 – I propose we build a wall on the southern border.
2020 – I propose we eat grandma first.
Moral: too much spending!
Fence, schmence. So what. It’s ….. effective! Not one Crimean has escaped to Ukraine since it was built.
Then why don’t the Trumpeteers bellow for a fence like the Ruskie’s put up? You could cover most of the border for a billion dollars worth of fencing.
Great Idea until the wetbacks tunnel under the damn thing like they always do!
Token gesture. Will the MAGA crowd buy it?
I have to give props..he is definitely WINNING this week.
Posted by not sure, computer forgot my history.
Democrats are outraged! Oh, say it again, Democrats are outraged! And now for the money shot: and there is nothing they can do about it. Oh, mercy me, I don’t know who will win the war, but kicking A** in these battles is sure enjoyable.
Just a Billion? Did you miss the part where an additional 1.5 Billion is coming down the pike in the near future; is there a trend forming here? God, I hope so.
I’ve become totally pessimistic about MAGA, so I’m not jumping on any bandwagons just yet, but it does appear the Democrats are getting hit with combinations and roundhouses this week that is starting to get me wondering if there will be more to come?
If the pressure can be maintained on the media, by reminding them of two years of collusion lies, every time they try to start a new chapter on obstruction, they will diminish the Democrats chances at a 2020 election victory.
Will the Republicans pounce? History says no, but if the vengeance of Trump becomes manifest, they may have no choice but to give up their thirst for defeat and side with a man who is not afraid of winning.
The wall(I’m for it) is just a token gesture. It will do no good until we use E verify and enact common sense immigration laws . Then traitorous Americans can spend some time in prison with Leroy and Bubba. No right to any government service for illegals. Enforce the damned laws. Then this shit will stop. Not until.
If Trump really had any balls, or was serious about our Southern border, he’ build a wall similar to The Great Wall of China, complete with troops on patrol with orders to shoot anyone within 100 yards. Okay, 500 yards.
So much misinformation in this article. The money is coming out of the military pay and pension fund. So much for accurate, unbiased reporting. Seriously get your facts straight.