Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs moves to dismantle border strike force

Democrat governor of Arizona Katie Hobbs is facing a backlash from Republicans in her state over her decision to dismantle the border strike force that had been funded by her predecessor.

Hobbs said she made the decision to reroute the strike force's funding after the Arizona Republic reported that the force was not really focusing on border counties, other than making some large drug busts there. She intends to use the funding to coordinate a law enforcement response at the border.

"What our budget intends to do is to reallocate those funds where they can be most purposeful. I’ve said this before, recent reporting has indicated it's not a force, it’s not striking at the border, and so we can repurpose those dollars to where they can be more beneficial in terms of coordinating a law enforcement response at the border," Hobbs said during a tour of the border with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety oversees the strike force, and its head Jeffrey Glover supports Hobbs' move.

House Republicans in the state slammed the move, however. Rep. Andy Biggs called the move "shameful," and Rep. Debbie Lesko said it was "unacceptable."

"In the same manner that Joe Biden has destroyed our country with his welcomed support for the prolonged lawlessness and drug crisis along our southern border, Katie Hobbs is destroying Arizona in three short months since taking office by her reckless dismantling of the Border Strike Task Force," Rep. Paul Gosar said. "Countless more people will die from Hobbs’ open border policies."