Reed Backs Marines’ Assessment: Trump’s Border Strategy is Undermining U.S. Military’s Combat Readiness

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Los Angeles Times published a frank memo from the Marine Corps Commandant warning the Pentagon that deployments to the southwest border and the diversion of Department of Defense funding to President Trump’s border wall rather than Marine Corps priorities, among other unexpected demands, have posed “unacceptable risk to Marine Corps combat readiness and solvency.”

U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:

“President Trump has ignored the facts, ignored the experts, and ignored a big bipartisan vote against his views on boarder security.  I hope he doesn’t try to ignore this memo.  Decorated, senior military leaders are raising clear warning flags and trying to prevent our military from being damaged.

“President Trump should stop treating the Pentagon as a piggybank for his misguided domestic policy aims.”