Jack Reed: New missile defense system is ‘higher national security priority’ than border wall

The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee said resources wasted during the partial government shutdown would be better directed toward “pressing national security priorities,” such as a new missile defense system.

“Listening to national security experts, and the President’s own remarks, it seems clear that an effective high-tech missile defense system is a higher national security priority than building a wall across the southern border,” Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said in a statement. “As the Trump shutdown drags on, it wastes over $1.2 billion per week — money that could be better spent investing in real, pressing national security priorities like troops’ readiness and technological advances.”