U.S. Border Barrier Money Redirected, Ukraine Aid Package Announced

Border Barrier Money Returns, Ukraine Aid Package Announced

JUNE 11, 2021 | BY JIM GARAMONE, DOD NEWS

The Biden administration’s cancellation of border barriers returns $2.2 billion to the Defense Department, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said today.

Kirby also announced more aid to Ukraine during a press conference.

The department released a memo signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks that redirects funds for 66 projects in 11 states, three territories and 16 countries this fiscal year.

“We announced … on April 30, the cancellation of all border barrier construction projects paid for with funds that were originally designed and meant for other missions and functions,” Kirby said. “The decision to restore this funding was based on operational and component priorities.”Spotlight: NATO

Kirby also announced a $150 million package as part of the Ukraine security assistance initiative. The initiative is designed to help Ukraine’s forces preserve their country’s territorial integrity, and to improve interoperability with NATO.

“The package includes capabilities such as to counter artillery, radars, counter unmanned aerial systems, and secure communications,” Kirby said. This new package will complement a $125 million package announced in March. 

DOD and counterparts in the State Department certified that Ukraine has made progress in defense reforms, allowing the package to move forward. “The department continues to encourage Ukraine to enact reforms that are in line with NATO principles and standards to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” he said. 

The United States has committed more than $2.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014. The United States “will continue to strengthen our strategic defense partnership, including through the provision of defensive lethal assistance,” the press secretary said.

MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (COMPTROLLER)/CHlEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER
SUBJECT: DepartmentofDefenseActionsImplementingPresidentialProclamation10142
In Proclamation 10142. the President “declare[d] that the national emergency declared by Proclamation 9844 … is terminated and that the authorities invoked in that proclamation will no longer be used to construct a wall at the southern border.” The Proclamation also directed the Secretary o f Defense and the Secretary o f Homeland Security to develop a plan for redirecting funding and repurposing contracts for all border barrier projects. This memorandum directs actions for the Department of Defense in furtherance of Proclamation 10142 regarding those projects authorized pursuant to title 10. U.S. Code. sections 284 and 2808.

Section 2808 o f Title 10, U.S. Code, Border Barrier Construction
As specified in section 2808(c) the termination ofthe national emergency with respect to the southern border in Proclamation 10142 made the authority provided in section 2808 no longer available. I have also determined, based on the termination o f the national emergency, that projects authorized pursuant to section 2808 are no longer necessary to support the use ofthe armed forces.
The Secretary ofthe Army will take immediate action to: (1) cancel all section 2808 border barrier construction projects, including providing any requisite congressional notification; (2) relinquish any lands withdrawn by the Department ofthe Interior for such construction; and (3) transfer administrative jurisdiction o f any lands purchased for such construction or transferred from other Federal departments or agencies pursuant to the Federal Property Act, to DHS. .

……construction funds made available for section 2808 border barrier construction only to pay contract termination costs, including suspension costs. Such costs may include expenses of activities necessary for contractor demobilization, but may not include costs associated with any further construction or construction-related activities ofany kind.

As funds become available, the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer will take immediate action to release the unobligated military construction funds to the relevant Military Departments and Defense Agencies and ensure they are used in an appropriately prioritized manner to carry out military construction projects that were deferred to finance section 2808 border barrier construction.

Section 284 of Title 10, U.S. Code, Border Barrier Construction
Cancelling section 284 border barrier projects is consistent with the President’s determination that “building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution” to the security challenges at the southern border. Although not legally required. More