Trump administration waiver of environmental rules in pushing wall construction damaged federal lands, disrupted natural water flow and wildlife migration and destroyed sacred tribal areas, U.S. Government Accountability Office audit claims.

A new Interior Dept. rule largely echoes changes made in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster that were later walked back under the Trump administration. 

Nominee Michael Connor also was commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation in the Obama administration.

Plan would shift navigation responsibilities to DOT, other nonmilitary operations to Interior Dept.

Officials will use design-build to cut 18 months and $35 million from earlier estimates.