In the final weeks of the Biden administration, the government is reportedly auctioning off unused materials for the southern border wall, a move that has raised concerns among Republicans who view it as a deliberate attempt to undermine President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to secure the border. The sale of these materials has been described by some lawmakers as an effort to sabotage efforts to address the ongoing border crisis, which has spiraled out of control under Biden’s watch.
Footage captured by a U.S. Customs agent shows flatbed trucks hauling away dismantled sections of the steel border wall near Tucson, Arizona, a region notorious for illegal crossings. The agent estimates that a half-mile of wall parts is being removed each day, with the materials being transported to Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona, where they are being sold through an online auction platform called GovPlanet. The wall sections are being auctioned for as little as $5, with the latest auction set for December 18. This sale of taxpayer-funded materials comes after Biden’s decision to halt the border wall’s construction and dismantle parts of the infrastructure that was left unfinished when he took office in 2021.
Republicans have been vocal in their criticism, with many arguing that the Biden administration is effectively throwing away millions of dollars’ worth of taxpayer-funded materials that could have been used to secure the southern border. Some estimates suggest that up to $300 million worth of wall components have been left to rust since Biden’s decision to halt construction, exacerbating the ongoing migrant crisis.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) condemned the Biden administration’s actions, stating, “If this is true, they are purposefully undermining President Trump’s plans to secure the border.” Trump, who made border security a cornerstone of his 2016 campaign, has repeatedly pledged to resume building the wall once he takes office again, despite the obstacles the Biden administration has put in his path.
During his presidency, Trump allocated $15 billion to construct approximately 450 miles of border wall, with 250 additional miles under construction when he left office. Lawmakers argue that Biden’s efforts to sell off these unused materials are a deliberate attempt to create new obstacles for Trump’s border security plans in the coming years. As the political battle over the border wall continues, it is clear that securing the southern border will remain a top priority for the incoming Trump administration, even if it means fighting against the legacy of his predecessor.
In the end, Republicans argue that this entire situation highlights the need for a strong, unwavering commitment to border security and the protection of American sovereignty, regardless of the political costs.