Lowey, Wasserman Schultz Statement on Trump Administration’s Jeopardizing National Security with Wall Backfilling

Washington, April 28, 2020 House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) released the following statement after the Trump Administration notified Congress last night that it intends to partially backfill canceled military construction projects taken instead to build the Mexican border wall, with European Deterrence Initiative projects now being sacrificed as the source of the backfill funding:

WASHINGTON DC – House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY) and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) released the following statement after the Trump Administration notified Congress last night that it intends to partially backfill canceled military construction projects taken instead to build the Mexican border wall, with European Deterrence Initiative projects now being sacrificed as the source of the backfill funding:

“President Trump’s theft of billions of dollars in military construction funding last year to build his wasteful border wall led to the cancelation of 128 military construction projects across the country and around the world. On a bipartisan and bicameral basis, Congress refused to bless that theft and rejected the Trump Administration’s request to backfill these canceled projects.

“Now the Trump Administration is making an end run around Congress by attempting to backfill these projects on its own. Even worse, Trump is doing this by canceling funding for critical European Deterrence Initiative projects that were designed to bolster real national security needs and prevent Russian aggression against American allies and partners in Europe.

“Once again, the Trump Administration is putting domestic political considerations ahead of national security, and Trump is trampling on Congress’ power of the purse in the process. The American people deserve better, but they will only get it when Congressional Republicans join us and stand up to this out-of-control President.”