Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) has penned a scathing opinion editorial in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper accusing the Trump administration of stealing taxpayer funds allotted for “vital U.S. military projects.”
The Trump administration recently announced that it would cut or suspend certain military projects and divert those funds to help build a border security wall along the U.S. southern border.
Wasserman Schultz and many congressional Democrats are outraged, but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the fund diversion move was legal.
“The Trump administration’s decision to steal funding for vital U.S. military projects, including a critical project in Florida, is an abusive end run around Congress that threatens our national security and will harm the morale and quality of life of our troops,” stated Wasserman Schultz.
Wasserman Schultz pointed to the damage Tyndall Air Force Base endured when Hurricane Michael made landfall, adding that the base was still recovering from the storm, and accusing Republicans of holding back “disaster supplemental to support reconstruction.”
“Now the Trump administration is stealing $17 million in appropriated funding for a fire and crash rescue station at Tyndall AFB. I visited Tyndall, and I saw the damage that still exists there,” added Wasserman Schultz
But back in April, NBC News and many other media outlets, including The Floridian reported that Senate Democrats voted against the supplemental GOP disaster relief bill Rep. Wasserman Schultz stated they refused to approve.
“Disaster funding should not be a partisan issue, yet for months, Congress has repeatedly played politics with much-needed aid at the expense of local communities in Florida, Puerto Rico, and around the nation that are struggling to recover,” said Sen. Marco Rubio (R). “Tonight, the Senate had a chance to provide billions of dollars to these disaster-stricken communities, including $600 million to Puerto Rico. Tonight, my colleagues had the opportunity to choose action over obstruction. Shamefully, Senate Democrats said no.”
The bill eventually passed in late May, but not before Senate Democrats pressured Republicans to remove immigration reform measures attached to the bill.
“I will not support Trump’s brazen robbery from our service members and their families, and the House of Representatives will not backfill any projects Donald Trump steals from our military.”- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
