Although the prohibition on reprogramming funds from the Pentagon to the Department of Homeland Security for purposes of a border barrier was dropped (see our earlier post on this), we found this “General Provision” tucked into the Pentagon appropriations bill:

“None of the funds made available in this or any other Act may be used to pay the salary of any officer or employee of any agency funded by this Act who approves or implements the transfer of administrative responsibilities or budgetary resources of any program, project or activity financed by this Act to the jurisdiction of another Federal Agency not financed by this Act without the express authorization of Congress…”

Chalk this up under things that make you stop and go, “Hmmmmmm.” Could this be another way of keeping Pentagon dollars from being spent on a border barrier? This provision appears to threaten the salary of anyone who has a hand in such a transfer unless Congress approves it. We caution that DoD and DHS are both funded in the same “consolidated appropriation” bill. So maybe we’re jumping to conclusions thinking this has to do with the President’s treasured wall. But, the Office of Management and Budget is also funded in the same bill. Looks to us here at TCS like this is a shot across the bow of the President continuing to use Pentagon dollars to fund his pet projects.

This is something worth watching.