WASHINGTON, D. C. - Ohio Democrats on Wednesday blasted President Donald Trump for redirecting $3.6 billion in funds for his border wall that Congress had designated for 127 other military projects. No Ohio projects were on the Defense Department’s list of 127 projects whose funding would be used for the border wall.

Niles Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan called the diversion “an insult to our servicemembers and their families,” and said it would “undermine military preparedness and national security at home and abroad.”

“It’s outrageous that President Trump is stealing billions of dollars from our military and simultaneously subverting Congress to pay for his ineffective, expensive vanity project,” said a statement from Ryan, who sits on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction." While this Administration continues to demonstrate its lack of respect for our Armed Forces, this misguided action undermines military preparedness and national security at home and abroad."

I sit on the Subcommittee on Military Construction. Trump is stealing money from our military & servicemembers. This misguided action undermines military preparedness & national security at home & abroad.



It’s clear as day where Trump’s priorities lie: with his personal vanity. https://t.co/uJh2F65zwn — Congressman Tim Ryan (@RepTimRyan) September 4, 2019

Trump on Wednesday told reporters that he plans to have about 500 miles of the wall completed by the end of next year.

“When you have thousands of people trying to rush our country, I think that’s national security," said Trump. “When you have drugs pouring into our country, I view that as national security.”

The Pentagon on Wednesday said $1.8 billion of the money reassigned to the border wall will come from military projects outside the United States, and $1.8 million would come from domestic projects. Although multiple Ohio projects were on a preliminary list of projects whose funding could be allotted to the border wall, none of them were on a final list the Pentagon released on Wednesday

Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper said he determined the 11 military construction projects along the border with Mexico "are necessary to support the use of the armed forces in connection with the national emergency.

“These projects will deter illegal entry, increase the vanishing time of those illegally crossing the border, and channel migrants to ports of entry,” said a memorandum from Esper. “They will reduce the demand for DoD personnel and assets at the locations where the barriers are constructed and allow the redeployment of DoD personnel and assets to other high-traffic areas on the border without barriers.”

Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown said he’ll continue to oppose any efforts to steal funds from Ohio military construction projects.

The President’s decision to go around Congress and take funding away from our military to support his vanity project is reckless and irresponsible. https://t.co/SoxOcrLTqR — Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) September 4, 2019

“The President’s decision to go around Congress and take funding away from our military to support his vanity project is reckless and irresponsible,” said a statement from Brown. “Last year, Congress made key investments in our nation’s defense and national security through military installations around the state. I will strongly fight back against any attempt by the President to rob Ohio’s servicemembers and key defense priorities across our state of this funding so that he can score political points.”

Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman said he will continue to urge the Trump administration “to use money other than military construction funds for his wall, to fully protect projects in Ohio and around the country.”

“I am a strong supporter and advocate for Ohio’s military facilities and research institutions and will continue to work to ensure that key military construction projects at these strategic facilities move forward," said a statement from Portman.