“By Astrid Galvan - Associated Press - Thursday, September 5, 2019
PHOENIX — Construction on a Pentagon-funded portion of border fence began this week near Yuma, Arizona, just as federal officials revealed a list of Defense Department projects that will be cut to pay for President Donald Trump’s wall.
The 30-foot (9-meter) steel fence will be built along the Colorado River in a section of border that had a big increase in migrant families earlier this year, but slowed to a trickle in recent weeks. The exact details of the project are unclear, but it appears it will consist of about 5 miles of fencing.
The launch of construction this week coincided with the Defense Department outlining $3.6 billion in military base projects being cut to pay for the wall - developments that highlight the political dilemma for many members of Congress running for re-election next year. On one hand, they will have to answer for home-state military projects being slashed, but at the same time can rally the president’s base on border security with the wall projects.”