Federal operations may be stalled amid a prolonged shutdown, but construction along the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona continues at full speed. The Department of Defense confirmed that two border wall projects totaling $807 million are moving forward, even as the federal government enters its 16th day of shutdown.
The Trump administration has recently awarded $4.5 billion in contracts to construct or replace roughly 200 miles of physical barriers and deploy surveillance technology across 400 miles of the border. Officials describe the effort as a “smart wall” — a system that blends traditional barriers with patrol roads, advanced lighting, cameras, and sensors.
Two of the 10 funded projects are based in Arizona:
According to the Defense Department, the initiative “protects a vital military installation, strengthens border security, and supports our brave men and women in uniform.”
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While many federal services remain frozen due to the shutdown, border wall work has been classified as national security priority, allowing construction to proceed. The administration says that progress is measurable.
When President Trump took office, there were 702 miles of existing primary wall across the 1,954-mile U.S.-Mexico border. Since then, officials report that an additional 91.8 miles of “smart wall” have been completed during his second term, with 54 more miles currently under construction and 701 miles still in the planning or design phase.
Some national security proponents argue the ongoing investment is essential to maintaining operational readiness, while critics question the continued spending during a shutdown that has furloughed thousands of federal workers.
For now, the administration is keeping the momentum going — and Arizona remains a central battleground in the long-running border infrastructure effort.
Originally reported by AZFamily Digital News Staff in AZ Family.
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