The Dept. of Homeland Security has sent the Pentagon a new request to build hundreds more miles of border wall, according to a senior defense official.
The Defense Department is beginning an assessment of the RFA now — including examining the legality of the request, the feasibility of construction, the impact on military readiness and where the funding will come from.Defense Secretary Mark Esper should get a recommendation on each of these four areas in about two weeks and then decide if the Pentagon will fulfill the request, the official said.
If the RFA is approved, the money would come from counternarcotics, but that budget most likely won’t have enough funds to cover the request. As a result,The Department of Homeland Security did not get enough money in its budget to cover the border construction this year, prompting the request to the Pentagon.
“I think everybody would prefer that DHS get funded to do the border barrier construction,” the official said. There are about 104 miles of wall built to date, with almost 1½ more miles being constructed every day, the official said. The goal is to have between 400 to 500 miles finished by the end of this year.
The official expects construction to accelerate, surpassing the 1½ miles a day. The U.S. has about 5,100 troops at the border, a mix of National Guard and active duty.Courtney Kube is a correspondent covering national security and the military for the NBC News Investigative Unit.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pentagon prepared to provide additional financial support to border wall: EsperDefense Secretary Mark Esper said that the Pentagon is prepared to provide additional financial support for the president's border wall.
Read more »
Jamie Foxx Talks Mile High Club, Horrifies Ellen Audience Answering Burning Questions“I’m trying to be truthful and honest and I’m being persecuted for it” (via toofab)
Read more »
‘Bang!’ Book Trailer: Mind-Bending Spy Tale Flips 007 Tropes On Their HeadEXCLUSIVE The “new releases” wall at a comic book shop can present a challenging landscape for uninitiated visitors but, when in doubt, they can always ask themselves one simple questio…
Read more »
Unreal Treadmill Sessions Pushed This College Coach to the Olympic TrialsTyler Pence trains with his distance runners—and puts in some crazy miles on the treadmill.
Read more »
Milan Men’s Fall 2020: The New Hub for the Young and the CoolA-Cold-Wall, Numero 00, Magliano, and more are shaking up Milan’s formerly staid menswear scene.
Read more »
Morgan Stanley shares soar after Gorman boosts performance targetsMorgan Stanley lifted its performance goals on Thursday after beating Wall Stree...
Read more »