Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Washington State Official Sues Trump Over Border Wall Funding

VOA News

   Washington state's attorney general is suing U.S. President Donald
   Trump to try to stop him from diverting $89 million from a military
   project to help fund the border wall with Mexico.

   State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed his lawsuit Thursday in a
   federal court in his state.

   "Our nation's founders enshrined our system of checks and balances in
   our Constitution. President Trump's action threatens to undermine that
   system. We will not allow that to happen," Ferguson said.

   He asserted that Trump'splan to divert military funds to the border
   wall was unconstitutional because Congress didn't authorize the money
   for the wall.

   Ferguson said that no matter how anyone feels about immigration or
   Trump politically, the president had committed an "egregious abuse of
   power."

   Democratic Governor Jay Inslee added that "the president promised that
   Mexico would pay for his vanity border project, but instead it is U.S.
   military members, their families and their communities who are paying
   for it."

   Submarine base

   The $3.6 billion for already approved military projects that Trump
   wants to use for the wall include $89 million for upgrades to the
   Bangor submarine base on Washington state's Kitsap Peninsula.

   The base is home to the U.S. Pacific fleet of Trident ballistic missile
   submarines.

   The Pentagon says building a new pier and maintenance facilities at the
   base is important to sailors and their families. It says the current
   facility is no longer adequate, and that when submarines cannot dock
   because of a lack of space, sailors are forced to remain at sea and
   away from their families.

   It also says current fueling facilities at the base are expensive to
   operate and a danger to the environment.

   There has been no response so far from the White House to the
   Washington state lawsuit.

.