The White House Diplomatic Room was opened up Friday afternoon at the request of the president to make remarks about the signing of the omnibus budget bill. President Trump addressed the fact that the Congress and Senate wrote a bill and passed it without the benefit of anybody reading the massive document, just to get it done. He regrettably signed the omnibus budget bill out of a sense of duty to keep America safe and to lessen our national security. He stated the fact that for the last eight years defense has been deeply cut, leaving our military in a weak state.

Strengthening military

Facing opposition from Democrats and some Republicans to create a stronger military in order to keep America safe, he felt signing the omnibus budget bill was necessary to help complete his military end goals. The bill has provided an increase in defense spending, $655 billion, which will be used for a well deserved major pay increase for the troops and funding for much-needed military equipment. The President revealed the way funding will be spent:

  • $23.8 billion to procure 34 Navy ships;
  • $10.2 billion for 90 F-35 aircraft;
  • $2.9 billion for 15 KC-46 tanker aircraft;
  • $1.8 billion for 24 FA-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft fighter jets;
  • $1.7 billion for 10 P-8;
  • $1.1 billion for 56 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters;
  • $1.1 billion for the upgrade of 85 Abrams tanks, and
  • A large portion will be used to upgrade to our nuclear systems.

Secretary of Defense Mattis, noted that this was the largest military budget in history and thanked the American people and Congress for providing the funds.

President Trump continued his remarks by stating that $1.6 billion, which he called short-term funding, was given for the border wall and homeland security. Although he initially stated he wanted $25 billion in the omnibus budget bill for the wall and border security. He said that work would begin immediately on repairing existing walls and fences.

Some of the funding would go to hiring more immigration judges at the district and federal levels of the court system.

Congress not listening

At this point, Secretary of Homeland Security Nielsen spoke on how the funding is providing a 10 percent increase which will help upgrade aviation security. Secretary Nielsen expressed a disappointment that Congress did not listen to what was told them by DHS and the hard-working people on the front lines.

But assured all that they would continue to work with Congress to increase security for all Americans.

Never again

President Trump went on to talk about our tremendous opium problem. The bill allows for $6 billion to be spent on addiction programs and research on pain medicines that are not addictive. He repeated his great disappointment with the writing of this bill and told Congress he will never sign another one like it. (White House report).