Shaheen Praises Ninth Circuit Ruling That Prevents Drug Interdiction Funds from Being Raided for Trump’s Border Wall

SHAHEEN: “This ruling affirms the Constitution and makes it clear that funding provided by Congress cannot be used as a slush fund”

(Washington, DC) — U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Sierra Club v. Donald Trump, ruled that the President can’t divert funds provided by Congress for drug interdiction to be spent on his border wall:

“This ruling affirms the Constitution and makes it clear that funding provided by Congress cannot be used as a slush fund,” said Shaheen. “President Trump vowed that Mexico would pay for the wall, not dollars provided for vital drug interdiction efforts.  Congress continues to fund border security on a bipartisan basis – President Trump must finally respect and adhere to Congress’s constitutional power of the purse.”  

Senator Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committee, has fought tirelessly to secure funding for New Hampshire’s national defense priorities. She was instrumental in defending Portsmouth Naval Shipyard construction projects against the President’s previous threat to divert Shipyard funding towards the border wall.  Since the President first announced his emergency declaration last year and projects at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard were initially listed as potential targets to lose funding, Senator Shaheen successfully defended the funding secured by Congress. Shaheen was also a cosponsor of the bipartisan resolutions to terminate the President’s National Emergency Declaration, which were subsequently vetoed by the President.