Editorial Board

A War Plan Against Military Budget Tricks

Congress's plan to raid the overseas war-fighting fund is dangerous and unnecessary.

June 27, 2016 at 12:00 PM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

Landing well over budget.
Photographer: Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images

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For the second year in a row, President Barack Obama is poised to veto Congress's annual defense legislation. For the second year in row, he's justified in doing so.

While the congressional approach has several problems -- including a ban on transferring prisoners from Guantanamo Bay -- one of the most egregious is a budgetary gimmick: The spending package approved by the House on June 11 effectively raids the military's emergency war fund to pay for normal Pentagon operations.