Marine Corps Boss Slams Border Deployment As 'Unacceptable Risk'

Gen. Robert Neller complains about "fiscal challenges without precedent" as he cancels important military exercises with the Marines stationed at the border

The head of the Marine Corps ripped President Donald Trump’s order to deploy troops to guard the southern border and “emergency” funding transfers from the military to build his wall as an “unacceptable risk” to Marine “combat readiness.”

The “unplanned/unbudgeted” deployment, as well as funding shifts for border security, has helped lead to the cancellation of military training in at least five countries, Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller wrote in two memos to Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

Trump plans to move about $6.1 billion from Pentagon coffers to pay for building the wall.

Neller’s memos, dated Feb. 19 and March 18, said money and manpower was also being drained by costs to repair bases and housing caused by hurricanes Florence and Michael, new housing allowances and civilian pay raises.

Neller called the demands “fiscal challenges without precedent.” He said “border funding transfers” have eliminated money that would have otherwise been used to address other shortfalls.

Because of the budgeting, Neller wrote that he has canceled training exercises in Scotland, Mongolia and Indonesia, and reduced participation in joint exercises with Australia and South Korea.

https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-marine-corps-commandant-memos-20190321-story.html