The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is taking over various border barrier projects that were previously run by the Department of Defense. 

The transfer is in accordance with a presidential proclamation issued earlier this year, to pause construction activity at the country's southern border and assess how best to redirect federal funds to complete necessary work, the DHS stated on its website Dec. 20. 

"As part of that process, DoD will turn over unfinished projects to DHS in various stages of completion to undertake activities necessary to address urgent life, safety, environmental, or other remediation required to protect border communities," DHS stated in the announcement. 

The projects that CBP is taking responsibility for completing include completing or installing drainage to prevent flooding; erosion control and slope stabilization; completion of construction-support roads; closing gaps and repairing faulty gates in the existing barrier; disposing of unneeded construction materials; and others, according to DHS.

Efforts will be consolidated on border-barrier projects located within the San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso and Del Rio sectors, DHS states.

“For these projects, CBP will work closely with stakeholders, including impacted landowners, tribal, state, and local elected officials, and federal agencies to seek input and help on prioritizing potential remediation activities within each Sector,” DHS stated in the announcement. 

In the announcement, DHS stated that "(t)he Administration continues to call on Congress to cancel remaining border wall funding and instead fund smarter border security measures that are proven to be more effective at improving safety and security at the border."