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The Pentagon said Monday in Congress that it was authorizing the transfer of $ 1 billion for the construction of 57 km of "pedestrian fences" along the US-Mexico border, in direct support of the President Trump 's national emergency statement from last month.
The fence, which will be 18 feet high, must be erected in the areas of Yuma and El Paso, the statement said. The announcement of the Pentagon was notable. A New York Times reporter tweeted this is the first time that funds will be transferred under section 284 for the boundary wall.
Section 284 authorizes the Pentagon to "build roads and fences and install lighting to block drug smuggling corridors across the international borders of the United States to support the anti-narcotics activities of the United States forces." federal order, "reads the statement.
The Pentagon announcement was made while Trump was approaching a victory over the Democrats as the House tried to override its first veto, a vote that seemed to fail and allow his statement to be upheld. The vote, scheduled for Tuesday, would keep the border of urgency intact, which would allow the president for the moment to transfer an additional $ 3.6 billion from military construction projects to a barrier along the border. southwestern border.
"The President will be in the House," said minority leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. In a brief interview. "The veto will not be canceled."
Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: "Christmas arrived early this week", in response to this announcement. He was probably also referring to the report of the special advocate Robert Mueller that there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 presidential election.
Patrick M. Shanahan, acting Secretary of State for Defense, announced that funds would be allocated to support the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol. He authorized the Corps of Engineers of the Army to begin planning and execution.
A group of Democratic senators criticized the Pentagon's decision and called the move "a violation of congressional appropriations," said Bloomberg. Democrats have called the national emergency declaration a crisis manufactured by Trump
"The reprogramming of $ 1 billion that the department is implementing without congressional approval is a dollar-for-dollar theft of other military readiness needs," Sens said. Patrick Leahy, Dvt, Dick Durbin, D-Ill., And others wrote in a letter to Shanahan, according to the report.
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Even if his veto remains intact, Trump may not be able to quickly spend the money needed to set up barriers because of lawsuits that could take years to resolve.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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