The Trump administration has tapped the Defense Department to cover $2.64 billion in southern border operations.
The Pentagon reported obligating the multi-billion-dollar price tag since fiscal 2025 to assist the Department of Homeland Security in obtaining “complete operational control” of the border, according to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office.
By declaring a national emergency in January 2025, President Trump directed the Defense Department to deploy military personnel to the border, mobilize reserve forces and divert military construction funds to assist DHS.
The Pentagon has funded much of border security through routine accounts.
It realigned $1.74 billion from various fiscal 2025 funding categories, 73% of which came out of the Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization program — money for maintaining military bases.
The DOD transferred $608 million from or through the Drug Interdiction and Counter-Drug Activities, Defense account and used military construction authorities to fund border barrier projects, drawing $300 million from existing military construction accounts.
Of $1 billion appropriated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, $472 million has been obligated.
The Defense Department also started providing some support eligible for reimbursement in fiscal 2026, a shift from fiscal 2025, when support was nonreimbursable.
As of March 31, the department reported obligating $2.64 billion for southern border operations since the start of the last fiscal year, of which $305 million is eligible for DHS reimbursement.
Tapping the Defense Department for border support has been a Trump administration policy dating back to his first term.
After declaring a national emergency at the southern border in February 2019, Mr. Trump redirected $6.1 billion in Defense Department funds to wall construction not authorized by Congress, plus a $601 million using Treasury Forfeiture Funds.
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