Biden administration auctions off border wall materials for pennies on the dollar, then approves new wall construction. You can’t make this stuff up, folks!
At a Glance
- Biden administration sells unused border wall materials, then approves new 20-mile wall
- Materials auctioned for tens of thousands, generating about $2 million since April
- Republicans criticize sales as wasteful and harmful to national security
- Administration claims funding had to be used, Congress refused redirection
- Record migrant encounters at southern border strain municipal budgets
Biden’s Border Wall Flip-Flop
In a move that would make even the most seasoned politician’s head spin, the Biden administration has been caught with its pants down in a spectacular display of mismanagement and hypocrisy. Remember when Joe Biden emphatically declared that “not another foot of wall would be constructed” under his watch? Well, apparently, his administration didn’t get the memo.
The Department of Homeland Security, in all its infinite wisdom, has approved the construction of a new 20-mile stretch of border wall along the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. But here’s the kicker: they’re doing this right after selling off materials intended for border wall construction. It’s like watching a homeowner sell their bricks on eBay, then decide to build an extension.
Secretary Mayorkas has said he supports ending construction of border wall system taxpayers have already paid to build, and which Border Patrol agents say they need.
This is unacceptable. https://t.co/DQPkvPuJ5T
— House Homeland GOP (@HomelandGOP) January 11, 2024
The Great Border Wall Garage Sale
While the southern border is being overwhelmed by a record number of illegal crossings, the Biden administration thought it would be a brilliant idea to host what amounts to a garage sale of national security assets. Materials like iron and steel wall tubing have been auctioned off on GovPlanet, a site for surplus inventory, for mere tens of thousands of dollars. It’s like watching your neighbor sell their home security system while their house is being robbed.
“The Biden administration’s decision to sell already purchased border materials is [a] waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars” – James Comer
The U.S. government, in its infinite wisdom, managed to rake in a whopping $115,910 from selling metal fencing tubes in October. Previous sales in August and September totaled around half a million dollars. At this rate, they might be able to afford a “Keep Out” sign for the border by 2050.
The Blame Game
When confronted with this blatant contradiction, the Biden administration did what it does best: shifted blame faster than a cat in a litter box. They claim the funding for the new wall was appropriated in 2019, and Congress refused to redirect it. It’s as if they suddenly discovered a pile of cash in the couch cushions and thought, “Well, we might as well spend it on something we vehemently opposed.”
“Leaving the border open to terrorists while selling border security materials at a loss is Bidenomics in a nutshell” – Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.)
To add insult to injury, the administration faced criticism for waiving 23 federal laws to proceed with the border wall construction. It seems the only thing more flexible than their stance on border security is their interpretation of federal law.
The Real Cost of Biden’s Border Blunder
While the administration plays musical chairs with border security policy, the real victims are the American people and the overwhelmed communities along the southern border. The U.S. has seen record numbers of migrant encounters during Biden’s presidency, straining municipal budgets in cities unprepared for the influx.
“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” – Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-SI/Brooklyn)
In the end, this border wall debacle is a perfect encapsulation of the Biden administration’s approach to governance: contradictory, wasteful, and utterly devoid of common sense. They’re selling the lock to the front door while leaving the back door wide open, and then wondering why the house is being ransacked. It would be comedic if it weren’t so tragically real.
