Lack of resources prevent U.S. military from stopping drug shipments

The Pentagon’s Southern Command only has the resources to stop about a quarter of known narcotic shipments to the U.S., according to the command’s chief, Admiral Kurt Tidd, reports Defense News.

Why it matters: The rate of intercepted narcotics hasn't changed since the military command reported four years ago under leadership of Gen. John Kelly, president Trump's current chief of staff. Trump has declared the opioid epidemic a health emergency, but Trump's FY2019 budget request sharply cuts funding to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which is tasked with leading the response to the crisis.