In a recent turn of events, Democratic Senators Mazie Hirono from Hawaii and Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts called on the Pentagon for transparency regarding the financial and operational impacts of the U.S. military's mission at the southern border. This request followed a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing where U.S. military officials admitted uncertainty about the expenses and potential impacts of deploying active-duty forces to the border with Mexico and developing facilities at Guantanamo Bay to accommodate migrants.
The senators underscored their concerns through a formal letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The letter, requesting detailed insights by the end of February, emphasized the need to understand how these operations might affect the Department of Defense’s (DoD) budget, troop readiness, and morale. Due to overlapping responsibilities and multiple agency involvements, costs have ballooned in areas where the DoD complements the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts.
There’s a prevailing notion that this military involvement is part of an overarching strategy to enhance border security, potentially at a steep cost to national security priorities. Deploying thousands of military personnel, initially set in motion under the Trump administration in 2018, continues to expand today with noticeable budgetary and operational impacts.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, North Command (NORTHCOM) leader, highlighted this during the Senate hearing. The troop count has swelled to over 5,000, supplemented by the recent deployment of Army soldiers to establish operational headquarters along the border. Approximately 500 soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division recently settled at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, while an additional 1,000 troops are on standby.
Despite extensive operations, Gen. Guillot confirmed that no classified funds have been earmarked specifically for these missions from the Department’s budget, yet coordination has been managed through available Comptroller services. He also noted that potential impacts on scheduled training might result in minor reductions in training days, although cross-training activities appear to largely align with personnel specialties.
Meanwhile, at Guantanamo Bay, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) under Adm. Alvin Holsey is similarly engaged. They have overseen the erection of tents and facilities designed to accommodate up to 2,500 migrants, with the possibility of expanding to 30,000 based on DHS needs. The current facility, operating upon existing military budgets, ensures security while awaiting the completion of deportation processes.
The ongoing concerns of Senator Hirono and Warren revolve around balancing the intricate needs of immigrants and national defense priorities. They argue that the shift of resources from traditional missions to border operations might compromise readiness and effectiveness, while migrant processing at Guantanamo presents a unique logistical challenge.
Adm. Holsey revealed that 93 migrants currently reside in the facility, divided between the main prison area and new housing expansions. This initiative represents a strategic preparation for an uptick in migrant flow as dictated by prevailing political and security considerations.
As discussions continue, the overarching tone suggests an urgent need to reconcile deployment costs against strategic gains. With a steady call for a transparent breakdown of expenses and potential impacts, the future of these border missions remains uncertain pending upcoming insights from the Pentagon.