The Pentagon announced Tuesday it has released $ 3.6 billion to finance the construction of 280 km of wall on the Mexican border, at the request of President Donald Trump.
To unblock these funds, the US Department of Defense has decided to "postpone" 127 projects for the construction and modernization of military premises in the United States and abroad provided for in its 2019 budget, told reporters a spokesman. Ministry word, Jonathan Hoffman. Defense Minister Mark Esper "has decided that these construction projects are necessary to support the use of the armed forces and the Ministry of Defense will therefore carry out 11 military border barrier construction projects," Hoffman said. during a press briefing. "The total length (...) is 175 miles," said Pentecost Homeland Security Officer Kenneth Rapuano. He said that it is a question of reinforcing existing border barrier segments but considered insufficient, as well as building new segments.
"It's a slap for the armed forces that serve our country"
The areas considered are notably located near Yuma (Arizona), El Centro and San Diego (California), Laredo and El Paso (Texas). General Andrew Poppas, Director of Operations at the US General Staff, assured that the construction of these border wall sections would reduce the number of US military personnel deployed at the Mexican border at the request of Donald Trump, who wishes to to stem a wave of immigration from Latin America.
Deferred military construction projects have not been described to the press, the Pentagon wishing to inform first the elected officials of the States concerned by the 127 projects, but the elected representatives of the Congress reacted very quickly to this announcement.
"It's a slap for the armed forces that serve our country," he tweeted. President Donald Trump is "ready to cannibalize military funds already allocated to satisfy his ego and for a wall he promised Mexico would pay," he added.