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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump's cutting $1 billion from the Coast Guard at a time when it's doing more than ever
President Donald Trump's proposed budget guidance is asking for $1.3 billion in funding cuts to the U.S. Coast Guard at a time when the service is doing more than ever, and is already severely under-resourced.
Trump's budget would cancel a $500 million ship that is already in production, and would likely hit other areas of the Guard, which specializes in interdicting drugs, human trafficking, and keeping a close eye on what Russia is doing in the Arctic.
"Last year, we removed more cocaine than any other year in history well over 200 metric tons and by all accounts, it looks like this year we are on target to at least reach, if not exceed, last years total," Adm. Paul Zukunft, the commandant of the Coast Guard, told Business Insider in a phone interview, adding that even with its success and consistent operational tempo, the service is strained.
"With all the success we had last year, there were over 500 events that we had great information on, but we just did not have enough planes, enough ships, to target all 500-plus events," Zukunft said. "We are really besieged down there," he added, referencing Coast Guard operations off the coast of Colombia.
http://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-budget-slash-coast-guard-2017-3
titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)Think about the Red states where the US Coast Guard is very prominent. Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, etc. Also the Great Lakes Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin. I don't see a path forward for his budget proposal at all.
Jimbo101
(776 posts)but let the cocaine "industry" have a free reign ?
talk about a mixed message .
Jimbo101
(776 posts)/s
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)Well, he wouldn't want Putin being watched to closely now would he.
dawg
(10,624 posts)that the Mexicans have boats.
uppityperson
(115,677 posts)teezy
(269 posts)This is very bad news for us.
progressoid
(49,992 posts)Except drug dealers.
marlakay
(11,480 posts)But it will affect Carolinas, Florida, and others on the right too.
CanonRay
(14,111 posts)Out here on the Oregon Coast
GoCubsGo
(32,086 posts)Apparently not. And/or he just doesn't care.