Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford told the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee Wednesday that the Pentagon is working with the Department of Homeland Security to develop a multi-year border plan, The Hill reported.
Dunford’s comments during the hearing on DOD’s fiscal 2020 budget indicated that active duty and National Guard troops will deploy to the southern border for the rest of President Trump’s first term.
“What we’re hopeful to do is to have, in fairly short order, for the secretary of Homeland Security, a much more predictable, comprehensive plan for the next couple years,” he said.
Dunford said an inter-agency team is planning around the number of migrants expected to reach the southern border, DHS’s ability to handle them and the expected support the agency will need.
“Although the commitment to the border hasn’t impacted our preparedness for other missions at this point, what we wanted to do is get into a more predictable mode of the requirements that the Department of Homeland Security has and do better at integrating across the government,” Dunford said.
Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro
Snap of the Week
Naval Academy plebes climb the Herndon Monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey
