Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today sent a letter to President Trump expressing her opposition to the diversion of $1.5 billion from the Department of Defense toward an unnecessary wall on our southern border.

“Families, towns, and businesses in California and across the nation are still struggling to recover from unprecedented wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding. However, legislation to provide critical disaster recovery funding – money needed to deal with the aftermath of real emergencies – remains unfinished due to concerns from the White House about additional spending, particularly related to Puerto Rico.”

Senator Feinstein continued, “I am deeply concerned that your Administration is willing to transfer $1.5 billion for the border wall yet at the same time plead poverty when it comes to repairing damages from natural disasters, even hurricane and flood-damaged military bases.”

Full text of letter below.

May 14, 2019

President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Trump:

I write today to express my opposition to the diversion of $1.5 billion from the Department of Defense toward an unnecessary and wasteful border wall, particularly in light of continued objections from the White House about additional spending for disaster relief.

Families, towns, and businesses in California and across the nation are still struggling to recover from unprecedented wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding. However, legislation to provide critical disaster recovery funding – money needed to deal with the aftermath of real emergencies – remains unfinished due to concerns from the White House about additional spending, particularly related to Puerto Rico.

I am deeply concerned that your Administration is willing to transfer $1.5 billion for the border wall yet at the same time plead poverty when it comes to repairing damages from natural disasters, even hurricane and flood-damaged military bases.

Annual wildfire and hurricane seasons will soon resume, and response costs will only rise the longer we wait to help rebuild from last year’s disasters. I hope you will put the needs of our disaster-ravaged communities above a wasteful campaign promise.

Sincerely,

Dianne Feinstein

United States Senator

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