Coronavirus isn't slowing building of Trump's border wall

<p>President Donald Trump said Monday that the coronavirus hasn't slowed his administration's goal of completing the border wall by next spring.</p><p>U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, updating reporters during the daily press briefing, said 164 miles out of 450 miles of fencing planned along the nearly 2,000-mile Mexican border is on track to be completed by the end of 2020.</p><p>"Our contractors are extremely focused,' Semonite said.</p><p>Some senate Democrats want to know why the wall on the southern border is still being built during the coronavirus pandemic and amid strict national social distancing guidance.</p><p>Semonite said that crews are being administered regular temperature checks and other safety measures.</p><p>The ambitious undertaking is funded by billions of defense dollars that had been earmarked for things like military base schools, target ranges and maintenance facilities.</p><p>The Army Corps of Engineers last week also announced a $569 million no-bid contract to BFBC, a firm affiliated with Barnard Construction, to build 17.7 miles of the border wall in El Centro and San Diego, California.</p><p>The contractor is reportedly getting paid above the average rate to complete the work, drawing criticism from some lawmakers.</p>