Pentagon lists projects likely affected by wall
Washington: The US Department of Defence gave Congress a list of projects that were likely to be affected by President Donald Trump’s proposed wall along the Mexican border.
The projects included equipment maintenance facilities, training areas and schools for military families. Some of them are planned within US soil while some are to be located in other countries, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Trump administration has requested the diversion of $3.6 billion, part of the spending of these projects, to build the border wall.
In a memo attached to the list, the Pentagon on Monday said it has included the $3.6 billion in the fiscal year 2020 budget request to guarantee the construction of the affected projects.
The list was provided to lawmakers days after acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan promised to deliver the information.
“We know President Trump wants to take money from our national security accounts to pay for his wall, and now we have a list of some of the projects and needed base repairs that could be derailed or put on the chopping block as a result,” Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed said in a statement on Monday.
“Now that members of Congress can see the potential impact this proposal could have on projects in their home states, I hope they will take that into consideration before the vote to override the President’s veto.”
Both the House of Representatives and Senate have voted to block Trump’s emergency declaration but the President has vetoed their blocking resolutions.
The House is expected to make an attempt to override the President’s veto on March 26.