One month after President Trump’s unexpected move to deploy the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, the Pentagon is quietly pushing ahead in moving thousands of troops and equipment south.
At least 1,500 guardsmen have now been sent to the border to curtail a “surge of illegal activity,” according to Trump, amid outstanding questions about the cost of the endeavor, how long troops will stay and how warranted the move is.
The Pentagon has only approved the support through Sept. 30, though Trump has indicated the troops will stay at the border “until such time as we get the wall.”
Demands from state executives are also causing headaches for the Pentagon.
