Questions Linger over Emergency Border Funding

February 21, 2019

The Pentagon still has not announced what military construction money it will move around to fund the border wall, which President Trump declared a national emergency to build.
Here’s the latest:

  • The Pentagon has asked the Department of Homeland Security to explain how the border wall would help military “effectiveness” before it determines which priorities should go unfunded to pay for the construction, Military Times
  • DOD will have to ask Congress for authority to move money from various accounts to the counterdrug account so that the counterdrug account can then be used to build the border barrier, CQ reported. Defense authorizers and appropriators in both chambers would have to sign off on that, which is unlikely, further complicating the search for defense dollars to spend on the emergency.
  • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is backing a resolution to disapprove of the emergency declaration, which is expected to pass the House, according to Politico. That would automatically trigger a Senate vote within 18 days.
  • If four Republican Senators joined all Democrats, the resolution would pass there, too. Politico published a list of the Republicans who have been critical of the declaration.
  • Court challenges continue to pop up. El Paso County, a border community in West Texas, joined the Border Network for Human Rights Thursday in a joint lawsuit asking a judge to rule the national emergency declaration to be unconstitutional, according to Time.

 
Customs and Border Protection photo by Nicholas Robbs

February 21, 2019

Recent News

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) vetoed legislation that would have limited foreign investor ownership of land near military installations, WIBW reported. Kelly cited constitutional concerns with some of the bill’s provisions. “If the legislature is serious about...

New Army Ad Campaign Focuses on Civilian Employee Recruitment

New Army Ad Campaign Focuses on Civilian Employee Recruitment

The Army hopes its new recruiting campaign, “Find Your Next Level,” will convince professionals to make the Army civilian workforce their next career step, as Task & Purpose reported. “Today’s workforce seeks meaningful careers, but few see Army civilian careers...

Nine Military Hospitals Receive Top Marks for Patient Safety

Nine Military Hospitals Receive Top Marks for Patient Safety

Nine military medical facilities received top grades for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit watchdog, according to Military News. The assessment, part of Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades program, evaluated over 30 performance measures at 3,000...

Wednesday Webinar on REPI Challenge Grant Proposals

Wednesday Webinar on REPI Challenge Grant Proposals

DOD Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program leaders will host a webinar May 15 at 3 p.m. Eastern time to discuss REPI Challenge grant funding proposals and field questions from prospective applicants. You can join the webinar at this link....

Warren Highlights DCIP as Opportunity for Off-Base Housing Support

Warren Highlights DCIP as Opportunity for Off-Base Housing Support

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) suggested Wednesday that the Defense Community Infrastructure Program is one way to help solve the housing crunch in many military communities. The program, which Congress made permanent last year, provides grants for infrastructure...

PAST STORIES