The Pentagon interrupts its plan to build another 20 km of border wall, citing insufficient funds

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The move appears to be a setback for President Donald Trump, who has been controversial for drawing on the Pentagon funds to build his signature wall, although it is unclear what will happen to the projects listed in the paper. folder.

Last month, Defense Secretary Mark Esper approved $ 2.5 billion in drug funds, which are allowed to spend $ 2.5 billion on construction. anti-drug barriers. block "drug smuggling corridors".

Although the then Secretary of Defense, Patrick Shanahan, had previously approved some 135 km of fences requested by the Department of Homeland Security in the Yuma, El Paso and Tucson areas, the cost of building this part of the border wall was lower than the forecast funds to support the additional 20 miles approved by Esper.

The Pentagon informed the court of additional miles at the time, noting that the corps could not know the exact amount of savings made to move the projects forward later in the year.

The lawsuit filed Monday by the court however reveals that there was not enough money to cover the costs of the projects.

"On the basis of his contract definition work for the initial projects of section 284, [the Army Corps] determined that the contract savings achieved were insufficient to undertake the three additional Article 284 projects authorized by the Secretary of Defense on August 26, 2019, "states the filing". As a result, the Defense Department has decided not to continue with the Yuma 4 and 5 sector projects and Tucson sector project 4 at this time. "

The president's decision to tap into Pentagon funds for his wall has been legally challenged by the House and the Democrats-controlled law groups.

In July, the Supreme Court authorized the Trump government to use $ 2.5 billion from the Ministry of Defense to build walls of a wall along the southwestern border, which, according to the government, is necessary to protect national security.

The ruling allows spending money now on the Department of Defense as a court battle is fought over whether the government had the power to divert funds that were not assigned to the wall.

The administration is using the funds allocated to the wall, as well as those of the Department of Defense, to fulfill the President's commitment to erect new barriers along the southern border. On August 23, the government uncovered about 100 km of wall at the US-Mexico border, according to the Customs and Border Protection Service and the Army Corps. According to the agencies, the construction of new walls in the area of ​​the Rio Grande Valley is underway.

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