The Biden administration has been selling off materials that were slated to be used to build a border wall ahead of the incoming Trump administration, which has promised tougher measures to combat illegal immigration. However, the administration has confirmed that it will not dispose of any further border wall materials over the next 30 days, allowing President-elect Trump to use those materials. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated that they have successfully blocked the Biden Administration from disposing of the materials before President Trump takes office in order to hold them accountable for illegally subverting border security.
Texas has expressed its intention to assist the incoming administration in building the wall along the southern border once Trump takes office. The Biden administration abruptly ended border wall construction in 2021 after 450 miles had been built during the first Trump administration. While some argue that a wall is a necessary tool to stop illegal immigration, others believe that it is xenophobic and ineffective. The action of auctioning off border wall parts began in 2023 with parts listed for sale on an online auction marketplace. The Defense Department’s logistics agency confirmed that the excess material was turned over for disposition by the Army Corps of Engineers and is now for sale.
Former President Trump has criticized the Biden administration’s efforts to sell unused border wall materials at a discounted rate, claiming that it would cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars to repurchase the materials. He called on President Biden to stop the sales and suggested that his team would obtain a restraining order to halt them. Trump argued that selling the materials was almost a criminal act, knowing that they would be needed for future border wall construction. The practice of auctioning off border wall parts has continued, with weekly auctions occurring in Arizona. The Daily Wire recently published video showing unused wall parts being transported on flatbed trucks in Arizona.
The Biden administration’s decision to stop disposing of border wall materials comes after pressure from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and President-elect Trump. Paxton’s office stated that violating a court order in disposing of materials purchased with funds subject to an injunction could constitute unethical and sanctionable conduct. Paxton also noted that they would hold the Biden administration accountable for illegally subverting the nation’s border security until their last day in power. Trump has urged the administration to halt the auctions, emphasizing the importance of preserving these materials for future use. The issue of selling border wall materials has drawn attention as some believe it could undermine efforts to combat illegal immigration.
