Senate Democrats on Wednesday are vowing to force a third vote aimed at ending President Trump's national emergency declaration amid reports that the White House is shifting more money from the Pentagon to the border wall.
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerNew York City subway service could be slashed 40 percent, officials warn Biden congratulates Pelosi on Speaker nomination Senate Democrats introduce bill to shore up PPE supply MORE (D-N.Y.) as well as Sens. Patrick Leahy
Patrick Joseph LeahyMcConnell wants deal this week on fiscal 2021 spending figures Democratic senators urge Facebook to take action on anti-Muslim bigotry Senate releases spending bills, setting up negotiations for December deal MORE (D-Vt.), Jack Reed
Jack ReedTop Democrat calls Trump's Afghan drawdown 'the right policy decision' as others warn of 'mistake' Overnight Defense: Trump fires Defense chief Mark Esper | Worries grow about rudderless post-election Pentagon | Esper firing hints at broader post-election shake-up | Pelosi says Esper firing shows Trump intent on sowing 'chaos' Esper firing hints at broader post-election shake-up MORE (D-R.I.), Dick Durbin
Dick DurbinPresident is wild card as shutdown fears grow Biden picks Obama communications director to lead confirmation team: report Democrats vent to Schumer over Senate majority failure MORE (D-Ill.) and Tom Udall
Thomas (Tom) Stewart UdallOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Haaland being vetted by Biden team for Interior Secretary | Progressive group slams Biden White House pick over tie to fossil fuel industry | Green groups sue over Arctic drilling plans Haaland being vetted by Biden team for Interior secretary OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump takes major step toward Alaska wildlife refuge drilling opposed by Biden | Grijalva backs Haaland for Interior Secretary | Obama alumni considered top picks for Biden Energy secretary MORE (D-N.M.) released a statement saying they "strongly oppose" Trump's decision, calling it a “continued cannibalization” of the Pentagon's accounts.
"We will continue to oppose the transfer of counterdrug funding for the wall, and will force yet another vote to terminate the President’s sham national emergency declaration and return these much-needed military construction funds back to our military," the Democrats said.
The Washington Post reported that Trump will divert $3.5 billion from the Pentagon's counterdrug programs and $3.7 billion from military construction funding.
The decision sparked bipartisan backlash from lawmakers tasked with funding the government, with Republicans raising public questions about potential unintended consequences for the military.
Democrats added on Wednesday that the decision was a "slap in the face" to the military.
“Bipartisan majorities in Congress have repeatedly rejected diverting money from critical military construction projects to build a single additional mile of border wall. Robbing the Defense Department of these much-needed funds in order to boost his own ego and for a wall he promised Mexico would pay to build is an insult to the sacrifices made by our service members," they said.
Passing legislation to block Trump's emergency declaration requires a simple majority in the Senate, though supporters would need 67 votes to ultimately override Trump's veto.
The Senate has previously voted twice to end the emergency declaration, with roughly a dozen GOP senators voting with Democrats to nix Trump's decision.
Under the National Emergencies Act, Democrats can force a vote on ending Trump’s emergency declaration every six months. The Senate voted in September and, for the first time, last February to end the emergency declaration.
Trump, however, vetoed both measures and Congress has been unable to override the veto.
