Military Projects Lose Billions In Funds For Trump's Border Wall

SAN DIEGO —The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed Wednesday it will divert $3.6 billion in funding for military construction projects toward construction and fortification of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border – the signature project of President Donald Trump.

According to DOD officials, funding for 127 projects – including money to build elementary and middle schools and storage facilities for hazardous waste, among other things – will be diverted for use on border construction in San Diego and El Centro as well as Yuma, Arizona, and Laredo and El Paso, Texas.

The border construction will span roughly 175 miles and include the fortification of existing barriers and fencing, DOD officials said. Construction is expected to start on DOD-owned land within 130 days, with the timeline for construction on other property unknown for now.

DOD officials said the funding will be dispersed in two tranches of $1.8 billion associated with overseas and domestic projects, respectively. Officials also said they spoke with federal lawmakers and foreign embassies who have affected projects in their districts or countries.

The funding will come from roughly $1.1 billion in projects across 23 states, nearly $700 million in projects in U.S. territories Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and $1.8 billion in projects in 21 other countries worldwide.

"We know for certain it will make for more effective and efficient use of military personnel on the border," said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security Kenneth Rapuano. "We expect that it will result in increased effectiveness in enforcement at the border and over time – we do expect over time that it will lessen the reliance on DOD or the necessity for DOD to support (the Department of Homeland Security) when they're beyond their capacity."

DOD officials argued the projects will lessen the number of troops needed to patrol the border for immigrants attempting to enter the country illegally but would not give an estimation of when that ramping down may be.

"All the barriers will be completed," Rapuano said when asked for a timeline. "The 175 miles per (section 2808 of Title X, U.S. Code), presuming there are no delays."

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be contracted to complete the projects, officials said.

– City News Service