Now Trump Wants to Pay for His Border Wall by Cutting Billions From Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA

Budgets of Agencies That Provide Vital and Life-Saving Protections on Chopping Block for Wall He Promised Mexico Would Pay For

There is no question federal entities like FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the TSA provide vital Homeland Security functions, and literally save lives. Despite repeatedly promising that he would protect Americans at all costs, and despite calling for a huge increase in federal Defense Department spending, President Donald Trump right now is debating cutting billions of dollars from FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the TSA – to fund his border wall, that he promised Mexico would pay for.

“The Trump administration, searching for money to build the president’s planned multibillion-dollar border wall and crack down on illegal immigration, is weighing significant cuts to the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration and other agencies focused on national security threats, according to a draft plan,” The Washington Post reports.

How much?

“The proposal, drawn up by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), also would slash the budget of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides disaster relief after hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters. The Coast Guard’s $9.1 billion budget in 2017 would be cut 14 percent to about $7.8 billion, while the TSA and FEMA budgets would be reduced about 11 percent each to $4.5 billion and $3.6 billion, respectively.”

Trump has also installed in his administration some of the worst climate change deniers. His new head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, served as a state attorney general but acted like an oil and gas lobbyist. He made his career by suing the EPA.

In partnership with House and Senate Republicans, President Trump is working daily to eliminate regulations that help ensure clean air and water and high energy efficiency standards, eliminate regulations or Obama-era policy decisions that prevented drilling, all of which will damage our environment. 

In other words, Trump is working not to reverse, but to advance climate change, which will result in even more drastic weather changes, And more hurricanes and tornadoes. More earthquakes Will result from increased fracking and drilling. He is doing all this while defunding the very agency that is charged with helping Americans prepare for disasters, and helping Americans during and after them. 

Does Trump have no idea what FEMA does?

Trump says he wants a war on drugs, and wants to stop illegal immigration. 

Does Trump have no idea what the Coast Guard does? What the TSA does?

Between TrumpCare and Trump’s budget, it is clear Trump has no concern for the lives of the people he claims it is his number one priority to protect.