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AG Ferguson Sues Trump Administration Over Transfer Of Money To Build Wall

Washington Attorney General's office

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed yet another lawsuit against the Trump administration.

The latest lawsuit seeks to prevent the transfer of military construction funding to build the wall at the southern U.S. border.

The funds in question, $89 million, were to have gone for work on a pier at the naval base in Bangor, Washington, where Trident nuclear subs are stationed.

Ferguson said the action violates specific statutes of federal law.

"If you move military construction funds they must, under statute, be moved to another military construction project. It’s limited that way in a very specific way. The problem for the Trump administration is the border wall is not a military construction project in the manner contemplated by that statute,” he said.

Ferguson described the need the Navy gave for the original funding and said diverting the money would put a hardship on sailors.

“When there is no space at the existing pier, sailors are subject, this is what they wrote, sailors are subject to excessive berth ships, and days spent away from home port," he said.

Ferguson added that lack of funding for the pier could also pose an environmental risk from possible oil spills from having to use a barge for refueling.

Ferguson says his office has won 21 cases on various issues against the Trump administration, and lost none.

Steve was part of the Spokane Public Radio family for many years before he came on air in 1999. His wife, Laurie, produced Radio Ethiopia in the late 1980s through the '90s, and Steve used to “lurk in the shadowy world” of Weekend SPR. Steve has done various on air shifts at the station, including nearly 15 years as the local Morning Edition host. Currently, he is the voice of local weather and news during All Things Considerd, writing, editing, producing and/or delivering newscasts and features for both KPBX and KSFC. Aside from SPR, Steve ,who lives in the country, enjoys gardening, chickens, playing and listening to music, astronomy, photography, sports cars and camping.