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Homeland Security Waives Contracting Laws For Border Wall

PBS.org

President Donald Trump's administration is waiving federal contracting laws to speed construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Homeland Security says it will allow 177 miles of wall to be built more quickly in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas and will bring the Republican president closer to his pledge of about 450 miles by the end of this year.

A 2005 law gives the Homeland Security secretary sweeping powers to waive laws to expedite construction of border barriers.

The move is expected to spark criticism that the Trump administration is overstepping its authority, but legal challenges have failed.

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