Republicans expressed outrage at President Joe Biden on Saturday following a report that the federal government is allegedly selling millions of dollars of unused parts of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.
GovPlanet, an online marketplace for surplus government materials, recently oversaw the sale of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of square structural tubes produced by Nucor Tubular that were apparently intended for former President Donald Trump’s border wall, a key promise of his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump has touted the completion of more than 450 miles of the wall during his tenure as president, though most of that was replacing existing structures. Only about 80 miles of primary and secondary barriers were built in areas where there were previously no structures. Biden, who has said a border wall is not a serious immigration solution, ended its construction when taking office in January 2021.
Since late July, $497,705 worth of these materials have been sold, according to GovPlanet.
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) spokesperson told Newsweek on Sunday morning that the materials are being disposed of “in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation.”
News of the alleged sales drew condemnation from Republicans, who have blamed the Biden administration’s more humanitarian-focused immigration policies for an influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden administration, however, highlighted its investments in border patrol and other border enhancements in a fact sheet report in March. Experts also note that external economic and political factors play a significant role in migration patterns.
According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, there have been 1,973,092 encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border so far in 2023. That number was 1,947,310 at the same point in 2022, 1,332,845 at the same point in 2021 and 350,400 at the same point in 2020.
Biden’s Republican critics took to the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice their frustrations.
“Instead of securing the border, President Biden is auctioning off taxpayer-funded wall materials for pennies on the dollar. He cannot avoid Congress’ accountability and must use these parts for their intended purposes. BUILD the wall and FINISH it!” posted Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.
“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,” posted Representative Nicole Malliotakis of New York.
Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade described the sale as sickening.
Meanwhile, congressional Republicans have sought to place limitations on what the Biden administration can do with unused border wall materials. In May, Senators Ernst, Ted Cruz of Texas and Roger Wicker of Mississippi announced the Finish It Act, which would require the federal government to either use the materials for wall construction or transfer them to state governments, according to a press release from Wicker’s office.
An investigation that concluded in March that was conducted by Republicans on the Armed Services Committee found that the federal government is spending $47 million per year on storing border wall materials.
While Biden pledged to end construction of the border wall, his administration has approved construction to fill in gaps and levee improvement projects. Meanwhile, the president has not torn down any existing barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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The complete border wall should be torn down, just like the Berlin wall was torn down
BULL S##T D. COMMIE
It should of never been built. Its not going to stop anything. Only thing that wil work is processing the immigrants. If they fail they stay behind. If they pass let them in. We need more people to work in this country. Who is going to pick vegetables, get degrees and help out or country? Anything is possible. They are hard workers who do not deserve the possibility of death in their own country. They are killing off their people faster than we are killing off ours with high capacity weapons. No one deserves that. It was a total waste. An old man climbed the wall easily. Pile up milk crates go over the top. Useless.
YOU GO LIVE THERE. TIRED OF FEEDING YOU DEMORATS.
Clearly you haven’t been to the border, and I don’t value your opinion over the border guards who say it does work. Do you use the locks on your car door even though they can be picked?
Leave your address for them to seek refuge! I bet you won’t!
The wall was paid for by taxpayers.Bide needs to be impeached now.
BIDEN IS A COMPLETE BASTARD
Great scrap metal for some foreign enemy to build back better, I am sure the pennies made will move us forward as a great nation removed…thanks so much El President
You that agree with the worthless leader, take a trip to the southern border, buy a house and after a few months, then rethink your thoughts and beliefs. I lived on the arizona/mexico border 25 years. Not ever again…..Not only would you build a wall, but you would be buying a few weapons to protect yourselves. So, until you can experience the border crossers and their extremely scary ways, then stop the crap. That wall is needed, the same reason
most democrat and republican politician have walls and gates at their residences…..
I think the immigrants should go to the military for at least 5yr. To learn our speech and training. This will support there families,care and housing schooling for there kids. Send there money to the family ..
Trump waisted tax payers money building a wall that does not work. People wanting a better life will always try to come to our country just like my grandparents did. I am thankful everyday that my family is second generation Americans. Immigrants work hard to be the best Americans, we need these hard-working people.
Robert unless you are Native American Indian your ancestors were immigrants.
That is OUR money he is stealing and putting in his jpocket ! But once a theif adn robber = alwasy a theif adn robber He steals form us, then he sells the goods WE paid for ! Typical Democrat Commie !