President Donald Trump’s decision to take $3.6 billion out of military construction projects approved by Congress last year to spend on a border wall has Ohio lawmakers worried that money earmarked for facilities across the state is now at risk.
WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) — President Donald Trump’s decision to take $3.6 billion out of military construction projects approved by Congress last year to spend on a border wall has Ohio lawmakers worried that money earmarked for facilities across the state is now at risk.
For example, Congress allocated $61 million in 2018 for the first installment of a $182 million building for the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton.
It also approved $15 million to replace aircraft hangars at the 180th Fighter Wing at the Toledo Air National Guard Base as well as $8.8 million for base security at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and $7.4 million for a new machine gun range at Ravenna.
Now, presumably, unless a contractor has been hired, any or all of those projects could be delayed or canceled.
Rep. Mike Turner, R – Dayton, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he strongly believes that « securing our border should not be done at the expense of previously funded military construction projects. » He said it is « a dangerous precedent » for Trump to declare a national emergency « because Congress refuses to provide necessary funding to protect our country. »
« This is insanity, » said Rep. Tim Ryan, D – Niles, a member of the House Appropriations Committee’s military construction subcommittee.
