On Monday, the Department of Defense announced they have signed off $1 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
DEFENSE SECRETARY PAT SHANAHAN: Acting Defense Secretary, Pat Shanahan, approved the funds for a 57 mile long and an 18 feet high pedestrian fencing with an improvement of roads and construction along the border.
The funds will also be used for lighting in the Yuma and El Paso borders.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT: The Defense Department states the funds for this project are specifically for ending and preventing drug-smuggling corridors coming in and out of America.
The Defense Department did not consult Congress before transferring the money and is now getting backlash from Democrats but it was not mandatory to consult the committee.
SENATORS: Senators including Dianne Feinstein, wrote and signed a letter to Shanahan as a result of the money transfer to the U.S ACE. The letter states, “We strongly object to both the substance of the funding transfer, and to the Department implementing the transfer without seeking the approval of the congressional defense committees and in violation of provisions in the defense appropriation itself.”
“As a result, we have serious concerns that the Department has allowed political interference and pet projects to come ahead of many near-term, critical readiness issues facing our military,” the Senators wrote and signed.
Thank you to the service members of @DeptofDefense for their continued support of @CBP along the southern border. @DepSecDef @thejointstaff pic.twitter.com/YiFQt3YBiy
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) February 25, 2019
Homeland Security tweeted pictures of Shanahan and the CBP together right after he signed off the $1 billion.
CONCLUSION: Acting Defense Secretary, Pat Shanahan signed off a check for $1 billion to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering without consulting Congress and the funds for the border was specifically to end drug smuggling corridors.
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