Day 959: Mexico isn’t paying for the border wall, these military projects are

“Mexico will pay for the wall.” If Donald Trump said it once, he said it a thousands times during the run up to the 2016 election. He whipped his rallies into a frenzy over the prospect.

Mexico will write a check, he promised.

The wall just got 10 feet higher, he mocked.

It will be done so quickly, he bragged.

None of that has been true after nearly three year in office. Looking at a 2020 election around the corner, Trump took the unprecedented step of stealing money from 127 military projects to pay for a measly 54 miles of a vanity barrier.

In total, 23 states, plus Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, will see projects evaporate. In addition, bases in 19 countries around the world saw funding suddenly disappear.

Lost or delayed projects include many schools, a rescue station, facilities upgrades, practice ranges, a child development center, maintenance facilities, warehouses and operations facilities. The $1.8 billion had been allocated by the Department of Defense after being authorized by Congress. The projects were worthwhile to many people at various points throughout the process and had been signed off on. Money was spent on bids and preparation, only to see the rug pulled out at the last minute.

Trump took money that would have had real impact on many communities across the world to build structures that are about the length of Rhode Island on a nearly 2,000 mile border.

Mexico has not paid, is not paying and will not pay.

959 days in, 503 to go

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