Free Republic

The Senate has confirmed Maj. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon as the Army’s 55th Chief of Engineers and commanding general of the Corps of Engineers, elevating him to one of the most crucial infrastructure-related positions in the federal government. Spellmon, whose long Army career includes other senior positions with the Corps, will succeed Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, who has held the chief’s job since May 2016. A Corps spokesman says that internal discussions are underway about the timing of a ceremony to mark the change of command, but no date has been chosen yet. Along with the Senate's approval of...

President Donald Trump said Monday that the coronavirus hasn't slowed his administration's goal of completing the border wall by next spring. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, updating reporters during the daily press briefing, said 164 miles out of 450 miles of fencing planned along the nearly 2,000-mile Mexican border is on track to be completed by the end of 2020. "Our contractors are extremely focused,' Semonite said. Some senate Democrats want to know why the wall on the southern border is still being built during the coronavirus pandemic and amid strict national social distancing guidance. Semonite...