The Independent View: Trump Wants to Use Military Pension Funds to Build Wall

As a disabled Veteran, this Issue is important and most be Stopped.

Trump wants to use $6.1 Billion, Courts are still Deciding this Issue, Out of Defense Department Funds altogether, including $224 Million from the Blended Retirement System, a new Pension Program that combines existing Pensions and 401k Programs.

Signing up for that has been Optional for Current Military Members but has been Standard for All New Recruits since last year.

The Pentagon says that None of the Billions in Funding taken for the Wall "will result in any shortfall in readiness or cuts to military benefits."

But that $224 Million being taken from the Pension Program is a Cut to Benefits.

It will also take $3.6 Billion in Military Construction Money and $2.5 Billion in Defense Counterdrug Funding, which is ridiculous.

The Wall is being Built to keep Drugs from Crossing the Border so of course it makes Total Sense to take $2.5 Billion away from Drug Interdiction Overseas.

The Pentagon hasn't yet said which Construction Projects will be Ended to make up the $3.6 Billion.

But from a List Compiled earlier this year of possible Projected that can get the Axe, there were 10 Projects in Puerto Rico, totaling $402.6 Million. That Money was intended for a National Guard Readiness Center to help the Island in Future Disasters and for Ongoing Rebuilding at Camp Santiago, which was heavily Damaged by Hurricane Maria in 2017.

When Congress comes back next month, House Speaker Pelosi has to Call Rescission Votes on this National Emergency Declaration every week until it's Overturned.

She can do it for the Career Military Folks who shouldn't be having to Sacrifice their Pensions for Trump's Agenda.

Will this result in the Pentagon having to come back to Congress for More Money to Cover the Resulting Shortfall, at some point?

President Trump did scored a Major Victory at the Supreme Court, as the Justices Lifted a Lower Court Order Blocking a Key Part of his Plan to Expand the Border Wall with Mexico.

The Justice Department had asked the Justices to Stay a Pair of Rulings an Oakland-based Federal Judge issued in May and June Blocking Trump's Plan to use about $2.5 Billion in Military Construction Funds for Wall Projects in Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

All the Republican-Appointed Justices Voted in Favor of Allowing Trump to Proceed with that Aspect of his Plan while Litigation over the Issue continues.

All the Democratic-Appointed Justices Dissented, except for Justice Stephen Breyer who said he would have Allowed the Contracting Process to move Forward but Blocked Actual Construction.