Pentagon defers 127 building projects to fund border wall

Defence Secretary Mark Esper approved the use of USD 3.6 billion in funding from military construction projects to build 175 miles (282 kilometers) of President Donald Trump's wall along the Mexican border.

Pentagon officials would not say which 127 projects will be affected but said details will be available Wednesday after members of Congress are notified.

They said half the money will come from military projects in the US and the rest will come from projects in other countries.

Esper's decision Tuesday fuels what has been a persistent controversy between the Trump administration and Congress over immigration policies and the funding of the border wall.

And it sets up a difficult debate for lawmakers who refused earlier this year to approve nearly USD 6 billion for the wall but now must decide if they will refund the projects that are being used to provide the money.

Elaine McCusker, the Pentagon comptroller, said the now-unfunded projects are not being cancelled.

Instead, the Pentagon is saying the military projects are being "deferred."