Pentagon authorises $1 bn for Donald Trump's US-Mexico border wall, asks army to begin planning roads, fences
Frustrated by Congress's refusal to provide the budget he sought to build a border wall, Donald Trump declared a national emergency last month in order to bypass lawmakers to unlock $8 billion in funding.

-
The acting defense secretary defended the move by citing a federal law that he said gives the Department of Defense the authority to construct roads
-
The statement was released just hours before Shanahan was due to testify in Congress to present and defend the Pentagon's draft budget
-
The move drew condemnation from both the president's rival Democrats and fellow Republicans
Washington: Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan said Monday he had authorized $1 billion to build part of the wall sought by President Donald Trump along the US-Mexico border.
The Department of Homeland Security asked the Pentagon to build 57 miles (92 kilometers) of 18-foot (5.5-meter) fencing, build and improve roads, and install lighting to support Trump's emergency declaration as concerns the border.

The US-Mexico border wall at Santa Teresa, New Mexico. Reuters
Shanahan "authorized the commander of the US Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning and executing up to $1 billion in support to the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol," a Pentagon statement read.
The acting defense secretary defended the move by citing a federal law that he said "gives the Department of Defense the authority to construct roads and fences and to install lighting to block drug-smuggling corridors across international boundaries of the United States in support of counter-narcotic activities of federal law enforcement agencies."
The statement was released just hours before Shanahan was due to testify in Congress to present and defend the Pentagon's draft budget.
Frustrated by Congress's refusal to provide the budget he sought to build a border wall, Trump declared a national emergency last month in order to bypass lawmakers to unlock $8 billion in funding.
The move drew condemnation from both the president's rival Democrats and fellow Republicans, who warned it was an abuse of presidential powers and created a dangerous precedent.
also read

Capitol Riot: Panel sharpens focus on Donald Trump's 'crazy' 6 January plan
Trump's closest advisers viewed his last-ditch efforts to halt congressional certification of his loss as 'nuts,' 'crazy' and even likely to incite riots if former Vice President Mike Pence followed through, witnesses revealed in stark testimony

Capitol riot committee may summon Pence, waiting to hear from Ginni Thomas
Witnesses who haven't testified yet aren't taken off the table, says Rep. Adam Schiff

Democratic and Republican senators at odds over gun deal details
Disagreements were also unresolved over proposals to send money to states that have 'red flag' laws that let authorities temporarily confiscate guns from people deemed dangerous by courts, and to other states for their own violence prevention programs