President Donald J. Trump stands before a plaque Tuesday, June 23, 2020, commemorating the 200th mile of new border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border near Yuma, Ariz. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

WASHINGTON  –  PENTAGON  –  President Joe Biden’s Department of Defense is canceling all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds originally intended for other military missions and projects, the  Pentagon said Friday.  With the cancellation, unobligated military construction funds that had been diverted from military construction projects under President Trump will be used for previously deferred military construction projects, allowing some of these critical efforts to move forward as soon as possible, according to the Pentagon.   President Trump declared a national emergency in 2019 in an effort to redirect funding to build a wall along the US southern border.

“Consistent with the President’s proclamation, the Department of Defense is proceeding with canceling all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds originally intended for other military missions and functions such as schools for military children, overseas military construction projects in partner nations, and the National Guard and Reserve equipment account. DOD has begun taking all necessary actions to cancel border barrier projects and to coordinate with interagency partners.  Today’s action reflects this Administration’s continued commitment to defending our nation and supporting our service members and their families.”

-Jamal Brown, Deputy Pentagon Spokesman

(Credit:  Gary Raynaldo /  ©Diplomatic Times ) Jamal Brown, Deputy Pentagon Spokesman, at Pentagon headquarters in Washington D.C.  

The Department is reviewing the deferred project list to determine funding prioritization, Brown added.  He said the Department will continue to work with its interagency partners regarding any additional steps that should be taken at construction sites affected by project cancellation.  President Trump’s declaration of emergency at the border greenlighted the transfer of billions in building contracts through the Army Corps of Engineers.

President Joe Biden issued a proclamation on January 20, his first day in office, ordering a freeze on border wall projects and directing a review of the legality of its funding and contracting methods.