Unlawfulness of Warrior Dividends

I am writing to demand that you demand the Trump administration (the executive branch, which does not have the power of the purse) to comply with congressional budget appropriations, specifically with regard to the “Warrior Dividends,” $1,776 checks that President Trump announced would be distributed to service members. Article one of the Constitution says, “[n]o Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” Although President Trump tried to obscure the source of the funds by referencing tariff revenues, the Pentagon has confirmed that the checks are coming from appropriations for supplemental basic allowance for housing for service members. Title II, section 20001(a)(5) of H.R.1 (the One Big Beautiful Bill that you’ve proudly bragged about voting for no matter how it hurts your constituents that aren’t rich) clearly shows that $2,900,000,000 was appropriated for supplemental BAH. BAH is not taxed at all, but the $1,776 checks will be subject to state taxes. (6) shows $50,000,000 set aside for “bonuses, special pays, and incentive pays,” but that allotment is not what being used (and is not nearly enough). As an aside, even if these checks *were* coming from tariff revenues, that would *still* require congressional approval. Tariff revenue is not a slush fund for the President to use however he chooses. Do service members need these funds? Absolutely. But they should be distributed *properly* and as appropriated. It may look good on the surface, and you can self-righteously say, “What! Don’t you care about our military?” to those like me who are calling this out. The Warrior Dividends do not pass the sniff test and appear to be the President attempting to garner economic good will while Americans are drowning in the high cost of living that he insists is going down — all from money that, again, has *already been appropriated.* I cannot imagine the cow you would (rightfully) have had if former President Biden pulled a stunt like this. There is so much actual stuff you should be doing, like pushing for the release of the full Epstein files that the DOJ announced will not be fully released as required by law in The Epstein Files Transparency Act, instead of being sent home early like cowards so you can avoid the fallout. If you’re the party of law and order, act like it.