President Joe Biden is putting a stop to all construction on the wall along the southern border that was funded by diverted defense funds.
A Biden administration official said Friday, “Consistent with the President’s Proclamation terminating the redirection of funds for border wall, no more money will be diverted from other purposes to building a border wall.”
They continued, “Today, the Department of Defense will begin cancelling all wall projects using the diverted funds, and will take steps to return remaining unobligated military construction funds to their appropriated purpose as permitted by law.”
Biden paused the border wall construction once he took office and initiated a 60-day review “of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall.”
The president said in his order, “Like every nation, the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats. But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution. It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security.”
According to a Defense Department spokesperson, the money would be returned to accounts set up for “schools for military children, overseas military construction projects in partner nations, and the National Guard and Reserve equipment account.”
The Department of Homeland Security also said it would address the damage caused to the Rio Grande Valley’s flood barriers and soil erosion in San Diego by the construction of the wall.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked earlier this month about reports of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas allegedly telling Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees the administration was thinking about completing “gaps” in the construction of the wall.
“We have never believed the wall as an answer to addressing the challenges – immigration challenges at the border. That’s why we’re proposing an investment in smart – investments in smart security at the border,” Psaki said.
She added, “What we see as 21st century solutions for border management, and why we believe we should build a functioning immigration system.”