Hold Administration Accountable for Diverting $2 Billion from Military Readiness

The Trump administration has diverted over $2 billion from the Department of Defense budget to support immigration enforcement, directly violating Congressional appropriations and undermining national security. Despite DHS receiving an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement in 2025, Secretary Pete Hegseth continues redirecting military funds from their congressionally mandated purposes. The numbers tell a troubling story. At least $1.3 billion has been diverted for border troop deployments, $258 million for deployments to Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Memphis, $420.9 million for immigrant detention at military installations including Guantánamo, and $40.3 million for deportation flights. These funds were originally allocated for barracks updates, maintenance hangers, and critical military construction projects in the Pacific. This misappropriation has real consequences for military readiness. The 101st Airborne Division, our only air assault division, was pulled from national security missions for border duty. The California National Guard firefighting unit entered peak fire season at half strength because members were deployed to Los Angeles instead. Units are missing combat readiness training exercises. A $1 billion barracks renovation has been delayed, along with elementary schools at Fort Knox and a military installation in Germany, medical facilities at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, and Marine barracks in Japan. Servicemembers are paying the price. Specialist Sarah Beckstrom from the West Virginia National Guard died in November during deployment to Washington, D.C. Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe suffered critical injuries. Troops are being pulled from families and civilian jobs for indefinite periods to perform duties they never enlisted for. During the first Trump administration, DoD stopped border deployments after determining they hurt readiness and morale, contributing to substance abuse and potentially to suicides among Texas National Guardsmen. Congress appropriated these funds with specific intent. I urge you to hold Secretary Hegseth and this administration accountable for circumventing Congressional authority, demand full reimbursement from DHS to DoD, and ensure military resources return to their intended purpose of protecting national security and supporting our troops.