Border Wall Funding Could Come From $12.8 Billion in Pentagon Spending

On Monday night, Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island released a 20-page spreadsheet on Twitter that included $12.8 billion in possible funding for a border wall as identified by the Defense Department.

Last month, President Trump declared a national emergency at the border when Congress failed to come up with $5 billion for funding. This spreadsheet indicates that money could come from unused military dollars from a variety of sectors and states. The Washington Examiner reports that “The Pentagon’s list said it has found possible funding sources that are ‘in excess of the amount needed.”

How Much Unused Military Spending Exists?

“But it’s not clear which projects the Defense Department will draw from. Some states that have been allocated big chunks of money that haven’t been spent could see a hit,” the Examiner notes.

“California, for example, was identified as having more than $700 million in unused Army and Navy military construction that could be used. Hawaii has more than $400 million that could be used,” the report continues. “More than $200 million in similar funding allocated for Hawaii, Maine, New York, North Carolina, Guam, Germany, Guam [sic], and Guantanamo Bay Cuba are also on the list.”

Sen. Reed warned that “military bases in your state could be negatively impacted” due to Trump’s national emergency declaration.

Courts may still decide if this money allocated specifically for military means could be used for border funding.

Why Not?

But why not? If the money is unused, and the government isn’t going to give it back to taxpayers – when does government ever do this? – why not use it toward something needed like a U.S.-Mexico border wall?

Not to mention, military spending obviously means national security. So does constructing a border wall. Both are “national security” no matter how you look at it.

In February, we saw the House vote against Trump’s border decree, and this month we saw the Senate do the same thing.

Trump overrode both. He is now on the path to building the wall. This could be a good and proper way to fund it.

Will everyone please finally get out of the President’s way and let him do what’s right for this country?