Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Chanahan on Monday allowed $ 1 billion of the ministry's budget to build part of the border wall that President Donald Trump is seeking to build on the border with Mexico, the Pentagon said.
In a statement, Shanahan said, "The commander of the Engineering Brigade of the Army Corps was authorized to begin planning and implementing up to $ 1 billion to support the Department of Homeland Security," which asked the Pentagon to build a 92-kilometer-long fence and build 5.5 meters, and to build, improve and illuminate roads in El Paso, Texas .
"The Ministry of Defense may build roads and barriers and install lighting to prevent drug trafficking across borders," Shanahan said.
"Accordingly, I have decided to proceed with the construction of a wall of 92 kilometers and a height of 5.5 meters, the construction and repair of roads and the installation of lighting devices in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security.
The ministry released Shanahan's statement late on Friday, hours before he went to Congress to defend his ministry's budget bill.
The Pentagon's decision follows Congress's rejection of Trump's request for $ 5.7 billion to fund the construction of the border wall, and only $ 1.375 billion.
The move to circumvent the will of Congress and declare a state of emergency, in an exceptional move opposed by Democrats and some Republicans, to benefit from the $ 8.1 billion for the construction of the border wall, more than he initially requested.
The extraordinary measure provoked Trump's Democrats' antagonism, and the chagrin of his Republican allies in Congress who fear a precedent could be created for a Democratic president to circumvent Congress's will for political ends.
The Pentagon's decision yesterday to sharply criticize Shanahan during his defense of Congress today is expected to offset his ministry's budget.
The Wall is one of Trump's most important promises to his popular base, allegedly reducing the flow of refugees from Mexico and the rest of Latin America, which he says is the main reason for the country's high levels of crime.
The country saw the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 the longest government closure in its history lasted 35 days, due to lack of agreement on the budget or partial funding of the government, with Trump insistence on including the construction of the wall, and the rejection of Democrats.