The Trump administration’s relentless push to build its wall along the Mexican border will siphon more than $77 million from four military projects in Virginia, Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner said in a statement today.
The Democratic senators said they were informed by the Department of Defense that the overall diversion of $3.6 billion in Pentagon funding for the wall will strip money from the following projects:
- Cyber Operations Facility at Joint Base Langley-Eustis will lose $10 million.
- Navy Ships Maintenance Facility in Portsmouth will lose $26.1 million.
- A project to replace a hazardous materials warehouse in Norfolk will lose $18.5 million.
- A project to replace a hazardous materials warehouse in Portsmouth will lose $22.5 million.
“The decision by the president to divert funding meant to support U.S. national security interests so that he can build a border wall only makes us less safe,” Warner said. “Taking money away from our military – including funding to support critical projects here in Virginia – will mean we are less equipped to tackle threats here at home and abroad.”
Kaine said “the well-being of American troops is the core responsibility of every commander in the military, yet the commander-in-chief is shirking that duty so he can advance his own political agenda.”
