Wall could cost Eglin $63M

Money programmed for two construction projects planned for Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., could be moved to construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall under terms of the president's declaration of a national emergency. U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., confirmed Monday that a proposed $34.9 million outlay for an F-35A training center and a proposed $28 million outlay for an F-35A student dormitory are part of the $3.6 billion in military construction funding that Trump could tap for the wall. Eglin is the testing center for the F-35 and trains F-35 pilots and maintenance personnel from the U.S. military services and partner nations. In all, Florida bases could lose up to $177 million for planned construction, according to a list compiled by the House Appropriations Committee. (Sources: Panama City News Herald, 02/19/19, Tampa Bay Times 02/18/19)