Acting defense chief unsure on border money

WASHINGTON (AP) – The acting secretary of defense says he has not yet determined how much money he will redirect to President Donald Trump’s border wall project.

Pat Shanahan, who has been leading the Pentagon since Jim Mattis stepped down Dec. 31, made the comment to reporters flying with him from Germany to Washington on Saturday.

Shanahan said he has a great deal of discretion in deciding how to use the authorities granted to him in Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on Friday. The White House says it expects $6.1 billion from the Pentagon.

Shanahan said he would be working out the details starting Sunday, emphasizing that his mission is to support the border security needs of the Department of Homeland Security.