Democrats Blast Trump's Plan to Use Military Funds to Pay for Wall

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York railed against upcoming plans to shift $3.6 billion from military projects at home and abroad in order to fund President Donald Trump's wall at the US-Mexico border.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper signed off on the plans and notified congressional leaders of the change on Tuesday.

"This decision will harm already planned, important projects intended to support our service members at military installations in New York, across the United States, and around the world," Schumer said in a statement.

"It is a slap in the face to the members of the Armed Forces who serve our country that President Trump is willing to cannibalize already allocated military funding to boost his own ego and for a wall he promised Mexico would pay to build," Schumer added, referring to Trump's numerous campaign assurances that Mexico will fund the massive project.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed Schumer's sentiment and vowed that congressional Democrats would challenge the decision.

"Canceling military construction projects at home and abroad will undermine our national security and the quality of life and morale of our troops, making America less secure," Pelosi said in a statement.

The plan will allow the funds to be available immediately. Around 127 military projects are expected to be put on hold, and construction for 175 miles of the wall could begin in over 100 days, according to CNN. Pentagon comptroller Elaine McCusker said the funds will be pay for 11 border crossing projects.

Schumer's office noted the plan will "delay critical construction projects" for his state and constituents, notably the United States Military Academy in West Point. The military academy educates and trains roughly 4,500 cadets to become future officers in the US Army.

The academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration planned on reallocating military construction funds to pay for the proposed wall. Trump declared a national emergency in February, allowing him to bypass congress and fund the controversial wall at the border. Congress attempted to block Trump's declaration but the resolution was vetoed by the president.

Trump previously claimed over 200 times that Mexico would fund the wall, according to an estimate from The Washington Post. He later walked back his remarks and said in January that he "never said this."

"I never meant they're going to write out a check," Trump said, referring to Mexico.

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