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President-Elect Donald Trump has filed an amicus brief in a Texas court seeking to halt the Biden administration’s sale of border wall materials, accusing officials of undermining future construction efforts and potentially engaging in unlawful actions.
Some shit you should know before you read: Roughly two weeks ago, The Daily Wire reported that the Biden administration was conducting a “fire sale” of border wall materials, selling them off at significantly reduced prices. The report highlighted video evidence showing these materials being transported and cited statements from Border Patrol agents who alleged the goal was to clear the materials before Christmas. The materials were listed on auction websites like GovPlanet, a platform that specializes in selling government surplus, with auctions reportedly occurring regularly since 2023. The Daily Wire framed this as a deliberate effort to undermine President Trump’s plans to resume building the border wall.
What’s going on now: Lawyers for President-Elect Donald Trump have filed an amicus brief in a Texas federal court urging an immediate halt to the Biden administration’s sale of border wall materials. The brief supports legal efforts by Texas and Missouri, which claim the administration is violating a court injunction requiring funds and materials allocated for the border wall to be used solely for that purpose. Trump’s team alleges that the reported “fire sale” of these materials at deeply discounted prices undermines his administration’s plans to complete the wall and may constitute a criminal conspiracy to obstruct federal policy.
The amicus brief calls for a court order to stop all ongoing sales and requests a thorough investigation into the administration’s actions, including formal discovery if necessary. Trump’s attorneys argue that selling off the materials could double reconstruction costs for the incoming administration, describing the move as financially irresponsible and politically motivated.
Another view: Despite Trump’s claims, the Biden administration maintains that its actions regarding the border wall materials comply fully with Congressional mandates and legal obligations. Officials argue that the sale, distribution, and transfer of surplus border wall materials were carried out in accordance with the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which required the Department of Defense to submit a plan for managing unused materials. According to administration representatives, approximately 60% of the materials were distributed to entities like Customs and Border Protection and border states, while the remaining 40% were sold to GovPlanet through a competitive sales process.
The administration also argues that these materials are no longer government property, stressing that it has no legal authority to recall or halt further resale of the items by private entities.
Texas official reacts: In a statement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, “What they’re doing is really an act, it’s almost a criminal act. They know we’re going to use it, and if we don’t have it, we’re going to have to rebuild it. And it’ll cost double what it cost years ago, and that’s hundreds of millions of dollars because you’re talking about a lot of, a lot of wall.” He added, “President Trump has an overwhelming mandate from the American people to build the wall and I will do everything in my power to prevent any acts of sabotage by the outgoing administration.”
