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The Pentagon has approved a plan to spend an additional $ 1.5 billion for the construction of more than 80 km of wall along the US-Mexico border, a defense official told Fox News Friday.
Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan approved the reallocation of funds, initially intended to support Afghan security forces and other projects, to finance the wall along the southern border.
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"Today, I have authorized the transfer of $ 1.5 billion for the construction of more than 80 miles of border fence," he said. "Funds were drawn from a variety of sources, including cost savings, program changes, and revised requirements, and will therefore have minimal impact on force readiness. . "
In March, Shanahan approved the first transfer of dollars from the Department of Defense and reallocated $ 1 billion to help build nearly 20 km of walls in Yuma, Arizona, and El Paso, Texas.
The combined total of $ 2.5 billion corresponds to President Trump's statement of a national emergency at the border.
But the plan to divert funds from the Pentagon has prompted criticism from congressional Democrats, who have accused Shanahan of not asking for permission to "reschedule" the funds without Congressional authority. Shanahan and other senior defense officials claimed that they did not have to obtain congressional authorization despite the objections of Democratic legislators.
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Shanahan, who announced plans to visit the border on Saturday, said the Pentagon was "fully engaged" in resolving the border crisis. He said more than 4,000 soldiers and 19 aircraft were supporting customs and border protection personnel.
Funds are being reprogrammed by the Afghan Security Forces Fund, a chemical weapons project, Air Force programs, savings related to a military pension system, and support funds. Coalition. The Pentagon should also, at one point, transfer up to $ 3.6 billion of military construction budgets to finance the construction of walls, but the details of these plans have not yet been announced. .
The move came after White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced Thursday that the president would officially appoint Shanahan as US Secretary of Defense. The decision to leave Shanahan at the head of the department permanently "is based on her outstanding service to the country and her proven ability to lead."
"Acting Secretary Shanahan has proven in recent months that he is no longer qualified to lead the Department of Defense, and he will continue to do so," Sanders said in a statement released. Thursday.
Shanahan said that he was "honored" by Trump's decision.
"If the Senate confirms it, I will pursue the aggressive implementation of our national defense strategy. I remain committed to the modernization of the force so that our outstanding soldiers, sailors, airmen and navies have everything they need to keep our military forces. mortal and our country safe. "
Liz Zwirz of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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