Has Trump authorized the construction of 115 miles of border wall? Accordign to Twitter > @realDonaldTrump I am in the Oval Office & just gave out a 115 mile long contract for another large section of the Wall in Texas. We are already building and renovating many miles of Wall, some complete. Democrats must end Shutdown and finish funding. Billions of Dollars, & lives, will be saved! Is this true? I can't find any real verification. If so, is it a new contract (and where is the funding coming from?), or maybe a renewal of some existing contract, or a maintenance contract?

Since no one else answered, here is what I found.

Cancada's global news is reporting

> With a fight over border wall funding keeping the U.S. government shut down, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that construction is set to start on “probably the biggest section” of the wall in Texas next month.
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> Speaking to reporters on Christmas morning, Trump said the federal government yesterday handed out a contract to build 115 miles (about 185 kilometres) of wall, which represents about a fifth of the total 500 to 550 miles (805 to 885 kilometres) he expects to see constructed along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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> He hopes to have all 550 miles built by November 2020, when the next U.S. election rolls around.

However, althogu it says

> the federal government yesterday handed out a contract to build 115 miles (about 185 kilometres) of wall

I can't find to whom the contract was awarded.