The Biden administration is allegedly liquidating millions of dollars in border wall materials, amid Republican efforts to legislate its completion.
Steel “square structural tubes” seen in an Arizona storage facility were put up for sale on GovPlanet, a digital auction platform managed by Canadian company Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. These 28-foot hollow beams are “excess border wall materials that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers turned over to the DLA for disposition and are now for sale,” the Department of Defense’s logistics agency confirmed to the Daily Upside and subsequently the New York Post.
GovPlanet, known for military surplus sales, has disposed of 81 such lots, garnering around $2 million, as stated by the Post.
Intended for the border wall’s 30-foot panels, these beams were auctioned in five batches at an average of $212 each, accumulating $154,200 for 729 beams. An additional 13 “square structural tubes” are set for auction on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30, as indicated on GovPlanet’s website.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is disposing of the excess border wall materials in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation,” a representative of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conveyed to Fox News Digital. They also mentioned that around $154 million of the estimated $260 million of materials has been transferred as per standard procedures, with plans for the remaining materials awaiting decision.
Former President Donald Trump reportedly expended $15 billion for 450 miles of the southern border barriers, with an additional 250 miles under construction during his tenure.
Upon taking office, President Biden halted the taxpayer-backed initiative, criticizing the border wall project as a “waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security.”
However, some Republicans highlighted that the Department of Defense has been incurring $47 million annually or $130,000 daily, to store unused border wall segments.
In May, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Roger Wicker (R-MS)., and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), launched the Finish It Act. This bill proposes the U.S. government to either extend the border wall using the acquired and untouched panels or transfer them to states like Texas for similar purposes.
The Post noted a surge in GovPlanet auctions in May when Wicker introduced the Finish It Act, and again when the Senate approved an annual defense budget containing a GOP-backed provision to recommence border wall construction. GOP members suggested to the Post that the Biden administration is accelerating sales of these parts to preclude potential Republican-led legislation.
Wicker criticized the sales as “outrageous, behind-the-scenes maneuvering,” stating, “This sale is a wasteful and ludicrous decision by the Biden administration that only serves as further proof they have no shame.”
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK), commented to the Post, “Leaving the border open to terrorists while selling border security materials at a loss is Bidenomics in a nutshell.” Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), expressed concerns about the broader impacts of an unsecured border.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), labeled the initial sales as “reckless,” voicing concerns over national security and immigration.
“Our borders continue to be overrun by an unprecedented number of illegal immigrants, turning every district into a border district and compromising our national security,” Stefanik told the Post.
Similarly, Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), rebuked the administration for its “refusal to act.”
“The federal government needs to be utilizing every tool in the toolbox to secure our border,” he said. “Instead of putting these materials to their intended use, they have been squandered, first collecting dust in the desert and now being auctioned off.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), criticized Biden’s approach to immigration and border security, highlighting her own efforts against housing migrants in certain New York City locations.
“President Biden has no regard for taxpayer dollars or how his open border is bankrupting communities across the country that are footing the bill for his failures,” Malliotakis added.
Maybe he’ll send the money made to the cities overrun by millions of immigrants these panels failed to hold back as they were intended to do. Sure, and maybe life is all bunnies and jelly beans. My personal happiness will return when this piece of dried but still smells piece of shyt drops dead.