New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin says the Trump administration should seriously think about “cost” before staging a military parade in Washington.
Zeldin, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and retains the rank of major in the Army reserves, told CNN Tuesday that it is more important to consider long-term funding for the U.S. military than to have military parades because “cost would be a factor” in doing so.
Zeldin said he opposes “tanks and nuclear weapons going down Pennsylvania Avenue” though he might entertain “a greater celebration” of the military on Independence Day.
The congressman is not alone in his quest to fund the Defense Department beyond short-term quick funding fixes: currently the military only has enough cash to keep operating until the end of March.
“The continuing resolutions are absolutely not the way to go, especially as it relates to funding the Department of Defense. Cost would be a factor,” he told CNN.
A military parade, usually reserved to celebrate the end of a war, might cost millions of dollars, according to a Washington Post report.
According to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, the parade would be a “celebration” of America’s military: “President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe,” a statement reads. “He has asked the Department of Defense to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”