During President Trump’s first term, the Pentagon transferred $1 billion dollars allotted for the construction of new Army barracks to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to build 57 miles of new border wall. In Trump’s second term, this will happen again. In a May 2025 letter, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth notified Congress that he intends to transfer $200 million from planned DoD construction projects to pay for 20 miles of new border wall near a military training area in Arizona.

Congressional Approval Not Required

In the notification letter, the Pentagon cited US code that gives the service secretaries “pretty broad authority” to reprogram funds without Senate or House approval.

However, there’s a cost cap of $50 million dollars per service secretary, according to a congressional source. That’s why the documents outline four notifications from the Army, Navy, Air Force secretaries, and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.

The four entities have each “determined that this project is vital to national security” and have identified $50 million each for the project, bringing the total transfer amount to $200 million. In addition, the funding is broken down into four separate projects that would each go towards building five miles worth of barrier.

Pentagon Justification Questioned

During Trump’s first term, his use of allotted DoD funding to build a new border wall fell under scrutiny, but ultimately went forward. According to Greg Williams, director of defense research for the Project on Government Oversight, Democrat and Republican administrations have used these types of authorities to repurpose funds for other projects. By doing it outside of the formal budgeting process, it leads to less review and oversight by the Defense Department and then by Congress.

“To reallocate funds in this way, bypasses that,” Williams said. “It also raises the question of how this could possibly be an emergency when it covers a very small portion of how that range abuts the border with Mexico.”

Secretary Hegseth also asserts that repurposing of the funding supports Trump’s top strategic priorities which includes strengthening border control and, therefore, the security of the nation.

When asked about the use of Defense Department funds for the border wall Robert Ditchey, a Department of Defense spokesperson, said that, “utilizing DoD funds to support the president’s top priorities underscores Secretary Hegseth’s commitment to spending every dollar wisely” and “dedication to working alongside the Department of Homeland Security.”

It’s left to be seen whether Democrats issue legal challenges to Hegseth’s plan.

Mark Nevitt, a retired Navy lawyer commander, law professor at the Naval Academy, and current law professor at Emory University, noted that a January 20th Trump executive order more directly links the military’s mission to border security.

Nevitt believes this was intended to justify that new border wall construction supports the armed forces. “I am not sure the president’s strategy will be successful,” Nevitt said.

What Current Projects are Impacted?

The list of projects that would be canceled or delayed to free up funding for the new stretch of border wall includes the following military construction initiatives:

• $21 million Defense Health Agency funds for the Oak Harbor, Washington Ambulatory Care Center and Dental Clinic from fiscal year 2022.
• Almost $19 million in Army funds for minor military construction from fiscal year 2022.
• $15 million in Department of Defense Education Activity funds to replace Robinson Barracks Elementary School in Stuttgart, Germany from fiscal year 2021.
• More than $14.5 million in Navy funds for the Joint Region Marianas, Guam distribution warehouse from fiscal year 2021.
• Over $12.4 million in Air Force funds for Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi’s T-7A Ground Based Training System Facility from fiscal year 2024. Congress was notified of the project’s cancellation in May.
• Over $11 million in Navy funds for a Marine Corps barracks complex and Bachelor Enlisted Quarters at Kadena Air Base, Japan.
• Unspecified millions from an F-35 Lightning II hangar in California and a V-22 Osprey airfield in Virginia.
• Tens of millions of dollars from two military-run elementary schools, one in Germany and the other in Kentucky.

Vital to National Security?

In order to stave off probable legal challenges, the Pentagon must prove that the new border wall requirement is urgent and vital to national security. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that construction of the permanent barrier was "necessary to obtain full operational control of the border," adding that the civilian heads of the Army, Navy and Air Force deemed the project "vital to national security," according to the letter.

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