Department of Defense diverting $3.83 billion from budget to build border barriers

The Defense Department notified Congress Thursday that it is diverting $3.83 billion from one part of its budget in order to construct 177 more miles of President Trump's southern border wall.

The $3.83 billion was going to be used to purchase two F-35 fighter jets and two Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft for the Marine Corps; one P-8A reconnaissance aircraft for the Navy; and eight MQ-9 Reaper drones and four C-130J transport planes for the Air Force, The Washington Post reports.

The Defense Department is using a counternarcotics law to move the money without congressional approval; under this law, the Pentagon can construct fencing for other federal, state, and local agencies in areas where there is known drug smuggling. The White House wants to take $7.2 billion from the Pentagon budget for the wall, which Trump promised to build during his 2016 presidential campaign, with Mexico paying the bill.

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There was bipartisan criticism of the move. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) released a statement saying, "This latest effort to steal congressionally appropriated military funding undermines our national security and the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution." Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) said the "re-programming announced today is contrary to Congress' constitutional authority, and I believe that it requires Congress to take action."