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Government
Pentagon to shift $3.8B for fighter planes, ships toward border wall
2020-02-14
[Politico] The Trump administration plans to sap money intended to build fighter jets, ships, vehicles and National Guard equipment in order to fund barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border, the Pentagon told Congress on Thursday, a move that has agitated Democrats and even drawn condemnation from a top House Republican.

The surprise reprogramming of another $3.8 billion, transmitted to Congress and provided to POLITICO, means the Pentagon will have forked over nearly $10 billion since last year to help pay for President Donald Trump's border wall.

But this shift in funding marks a new phase for the administration, which until now had used money set for military construction and counterdrug operations, not combat equipment. The fiscal 2020 money will be moved into drug interdiction accounts that the Pentagon tapped last year to fund border barrier projects.

A chorus of Democrats swiftly condemned the money grab, as did the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas.
Posted by:Besoeker

#13  Oh no, one less Zumwalt!
Posted by: swksvolFF   2020-02-14 20:49  

#12  Gonna need quarantine camps.
Posted by: Skidmark   2020-02-14 16:46  

#11  Yesterday on Rantburg: the USAF wants a bigger share of the DoD Budget or they will cut A-10s and B-1s...
Today the DoD wants a bigger share of the Federal Budget or they will cut...

Maybe, just maybe it is past time to start trimming the roster of Flag Officers in the Dod, and their staffs, to make the budget goals. Or at least get the attention of the remaining bureaucrats in the Pentagon by laying off a sizable number.
Posted by: magpie   2020-02-14 12:50  

#10  Start:

Everyone who ever worked for / with

McBastard - out

McRavin - out

Skelly - out

Hayden - out

And so on
Posted by: M. Murcek   2020-02-14 12:43  

#9  The border will return many times its price in savings on government spending on illegals.

fairus.org: In 2017, the total cost of illegal immigration for the United States – at the federal, state, and local levels – was approximately $116 billion.
Posted by: Theamble Spawn of the Brontosaurs5870   2020-02-14 12:17  

#8  #6 What use is a defense department if they never defend our own country? Posted by: Rob Crawford

Well put.

I would also like to suggest that the DoD reduce its inventory of General Officers in order to pay for the maintenance of said wall.
Posted by: Tennessee   2020-02-14 10:36  

#7  if they never defend our own country

Too busy defending / lobbying for Ukraine and Turkey.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2020-02-14 09:46  

#6  What use is a defense department if they never defend our own country?
Posted by: Rob Crawford   2020-02-14 08:10  

#5  Yes. Border security is a legitimate defense function and therefor a legitimate DoD expense. If the money needs topped up to buy planes and ships, cut DHS, FBI budgets accordingly.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2020-02-14 08:08  

#4  ^Notice that the only country employing F-35 effectively (original software) doesn't stint on border security.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2020-02-14 03:32  

#3  Whereas F-35 is a (bad) joke?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2020-02-14 03:30  

#2  I don't know g(r)om. Comparatively speaking, the 'wall' has a minimal maintenance and contractor tail, few cost overruns. Modifications and upgrades could be years if not decades off.
Posted by: Besoeker   2020-02-14 03:27  

#1  A border wall instead of F-35?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2020-02-14 03:21  

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