California’s military projects largely escaped the brunt of Trump’s funding diversion, while Puerto Rico, Guam, New Mexico, Alaska and New York are among those losing the most money.
Trump hasn’t gotten any wall funding from Congress, which$1.375 billion for border barriers in this year’s budget, far less than the $5.7 billion the president sought. When he declared a national emergency at the border, the president called for $8.1 billion for wall construction. So far, the transferred funds include $600 million from the Treasury Department’s asset forfeiture fund, $2.5 billion from Defense Department anti-drug activities and the $3.
As the project moves ahead with funding from the Defense Department, the AP reported that the money is expected to fund 11 border projects in El Paso and Laredo, Texas; San Diego and El Centro, Calif.; and Yuma, Ariz. The construction will involve either replacing existing barriers or reinforcing them on Defense Department or other federal land, and private property.
The shuffling of funds triggered backlash from activist groups and congressional leaders who argue the measure encroaches on Congress’ power to oversee spending.Tuesday that canceling funds for projects overseen by the Defense Department would take funding away from counter-narcotics efforts and stability and security initiatives.
“The president is negating the Constitution’s most fundamental principle, the separation of powers, by assaulting our congressional ‘power of the purse,’ and is undermining the oath of office we take to protect and defend the Constitution and the American people,” Pelosi said in a statement, adding that the House would fight the decision.that the decision, which would affect projects at the U.S.
“The fact that the government sat on these so-called ‘emergency funds’ for seven months further confirms that this is nothing but an unlawful power grab,” said Dror Ladin, a staff attorney with the ACLU, in a statement. “We’ll be back in court very soon to block Trump’s latest effort to raid military funds for his xenophobic wall.”
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