Last Updated on April 6, 2021
Visibly flustered White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki admitted Tuesday that the Biden administration is engaging in “limited construction” of the border wall project started by President Donald Trump. Joe Biden bragged about halting the construction of the wall with an executive order on his first day in office.
“The DHS secretary is reportedly looking to finish some gaps in the southern border, how does that fit with President Biden’s day one executive order to stop border wall construction?” Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked Psaki on Tuesday.
Psaki stuttered in response, claiming the construction was partly “paused” while “agencies are developing a plan for the President on the management of the federal funds.”
“And wall construction was being challenged in multiple lawsuits,” Psaki said. “For much of the wall, I should say, not all of it, by plaintiffs who allege serious environmental and safety issues. Under those circumstances, federal agencies are continuing to review walk on tracks and develop a plan to submit to the present soon it is.”
“It is paused,” Psaki insisted. “There is some limited construction that has been funded and allocated for, but it is otherwise paused.”
As National File reported, Biden made no mention of “limited construction” in January when he signed a sweeping executive action ordering the halt of all border wall construction within seven days:
An executive order issued by Biden Wednesday, shortly after his swearing in, ordered crews constructing the steel security wall along the US-Mexico border to stop. In doing so, Biden delivered on a campaign promise to hit a “pause” button on the Trump administration’s signature project.
The President’s order rescinded the national emergency that President Trump declared allowing for the use of about $10 billion from Defense Department accounts to apply toward the security project.
Biden’s order directs the government affiliated private contractors to stop construction “as soon as possible but in no case later than seven days.” The Biden team is set to make a full assessment of the project, seeking to determine the legality of its funding and whether that funding can be allocated elsewhere.
