Defense chief justifies wall diversion

Calls funding decision national security matter

MUNICH, Germany — Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday defended his decision to divert billions of dollars in funding for Navy and

Air Force aircraft and other military programs to help pay for President Donald Trump’s promised wall on the U.s.-mexico border.

Esper was asked by a reporter about criticism from members of Congress, including Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-texas, who called the diversion of funds contrary to the constitutional authority of Congress.

“Border security is national security,” Esper said on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich. “And national security is our mission. The action we took is legal under the law, and so it should be no surprise. And I’ll just leave it at that for now.”

The Pentagon announced Thursday that Esper had approved shifting $3.8 billion in funds that Congress had previously authorized for F-35 fighter aircraft and other military programs. The money is being diverted to help the Department of Homeland Security build portions of the border wall. The Pentagon indicated that more such actions could be coming to provide additional funding for Trump’s signature campaign promise.

The action drew sharp rebukes from Democrats and Republicans.

The “reprogramming request confirms once again that the President is obsessed with fulfilling a campaign promise at the expense of our national security,” House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-wash., said in a statement.

In reaction to Thursday’s Pentagon announcement, Thornberry, the top Republican on the committee and a supporter of wall construction, said that while the administration’s constitutional role is to recommend how tax dollars are spent, final choices are made by Congress.

“Once those choices have been made, the Department of Defense cannot change them in pursuit of their own priorities without the approval of Congress,” he said. “Attempts to do so undermines the principle of civilian control of the military and is in violation of the separation of powers within the Constitution.”

Jens Meyer The Associated Press Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks during a press conference Friday in Munich, Germany. Esper responded to a reporter’s question about criticism from Democrats and Republicans in Congress over funding of border wall construction.