The chairs and ranking members of both armed services committees have said they oppose using military construction money to help build a southern border wall if President Trump declares a national emergency.
“If it becomes necessary, I think Trump might use the emergency,” Senate Armed Services Chair Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) told reporters Tuesday at the Capitol, according to Federal News Network. “I don’t want anything to degrade military construction.”
His Democratic counterpart, Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), said last month that the money is already being directed where it’s needed.
“That would require the Defense Department to cancel military construction projects that have already been authorized and appropriated by Congress,” Reed said in a statement.
House Armed Services Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) have also said they do not want to see military construction money diverted to building a wall.
U.S. Army Photo by Scott T. Sturkol
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