FORT CAMPBELL, Ky (CLARKSVILLENOW) – As part of an effort to fund the construction of a wall on the U.S-Mexico border, The Trump Administration is diverting $3.6 billion of military construction funding that was to be used for other projects. Among the 127 projects to be deferred is $62 million given to Fort Campbell for the construction of a new middle school on base.
As part of the project, the old Fort Campbell High School was to be renovated for use by grades 6-8. The project was intended to relieve reported overcrowding at the current Fort Campbell Middle School.
“We were disappointed to learn of the deferral of the funds for the Middle School improvement project,” Said U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn in a statement regarding the decision. “We had worked tirelessly with the committee, Department of Defense and the Ft. Campbell community to be certain their needs were addressed in the Senate’s 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. We are in conversations now around this deferral and look forward to having more substantive information on the restoration of these funds in the near future. Securing the border and supporting military families should not be mutually exclusive.”
The Pentagon announced earlier this week that it would be deferring funding for other projects in order to fund 11 sections of border wall, equaling approximately 175 miles of fencing. Projects placed on hold include shooting ranges, missile launch pads and hangars.
News Channel 5 reported a statement by District 5 Congressman Jim Cooper concerning the decision to defer the funds.
“President Trump has stooped to new lows in trying to illegally fund more border wall,” Rep. Cooper wrote. “His latest funding grab includes raiding $63 million that was slated to build a much-needed middle school at Fort Campbell. Our troops and their families deserve better…President Trump should not be hurting the troops with young children at Fort Campbell this way.”