President-elect Donald Trump has strongly condemned the Biden administration’s decision to sell off unused portions of the southern border wall, labeling the move as both wasteful and obstructive. Trump’s remarks follow a Daily Wire investigation revealing that the administration is auctioning off materials at significantly reduced prices ahead of his inauguration in January. The decision, which Trump described as “almost a criminal act,” has sparked outrage among Republicans and border security advocates.
The auctions, overseen by the General Services Administration, aim to offload unused border wall materials initially purchased during Trump’s first term. According to reports, the administration is recouping just 0.2% of the original cost of the materials, selling them for as little as five cents on the dollar. Trump expressed frustration during a press conference, stating, “They know that we’re going to use it, and if we don’t have it, we’re going to have to rebuild it. It will cost double what it cost years ago, and that’s hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Trump announced plans to seek a restraining order to halt the auctions, having already spoken with Texas officials and lawmakers to address the issue. “I spoke with the Attorney General of Texas, I spoke with the Senators of Texas, I spoke to a lot of people, and hopefully they’ll be able to stop it,” he said. “I am asking Joe Biden today to please stop selling the wall.”
President Trump on the Biden administration selling off sections of his border wall: "Now it's about double the price of what it would've been six years ago, and the administration is trying to sell it for five cents on the dollar… It's almost a criminal act." pic.twitter.com/F4PHAe1G9Z
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 16, 2024
Adding to the controversy, Trump claimed some buyers have purchased the materials at rock-bottom prices only to offer them back to the federal government at exorbitant rates. “Some buyers bought it for three cents on the dollar and now want to sell it back to us at hundreds of dollars a foot,” he said. The situation underscores concerns about the financial impact on taxpayers and the logistical delays in resuming construction.
Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri also condemned the administration’s actions in a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Schmitt demanded an immediate end to the auctions, stating that the materials are essential for securing the southern border. “These border wall materials will cost tens of thousands of U.S. taxpayer dollars to replace and will be critical to stem the record flow of millions of illegal immigrants who were welcomed across our border during the Biden Administration,” Schmitt wrote.
The auctions come as illegal border crossings continue to reach record levels, with critics pointing to the Biden administration’s policies as a contributing factor. Republicans argue that the sale of these materials undermines Trump’s plans to address the border crisis and secure the nation’s southern boundary.
Trump emphasized the broader implications of the administration’s actions, accusing Biden of intentionally sabotaging his incoming administration. “That has nothing to do with a smooth transition; that has to do with people really trying to stop our nation,” Trump said. He warned that the delays caused by the auctions would ultimately result in higher costs for taxpayers, stating, “We’ll spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on building the same wall that we already have.”
This latest development highlights the ongoing partisan divide over border security policy. Trump’s supporters see the sale of border wall materials as emblematic of a broader unwillingness by the Biden administration to prioritize national security. Meanwhile, Republicans are calling for immediate action to prevent further loss of taxpayer-funded resources.
