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A federal judge in Texas has blocked the Biden administration from selling off unused border wall materials for 30 days.
Some shit you should know before you read: Roughly one month ago, The Daily Wire reported that the Biden administration was conducting a “fire sale” of border wall materials, selling them at significantly reduced prices. The report included video evidence of materials being transported and cited statements from Border Patrol agents who claimed the goal was to clear the materials before Christmas. These materials were listed on auction websites like GovPlanet, a platform specializing in government surplus sales, with auctions reportedly taking place regularly since 2023. The Daily Wire characterized this as a deliberate effort to undermine President Trump’s plans to resume building the border wall. In response, President-Elect Donald Trump filed an amicus brief seeking to halt the sale of border wall materials, accusing the Biden administration of undermining future construction efforts.
What’s going on now: In a ruling, Judge Drew Tipton ordered the Biden administration to halt the disposal or sale of unused border wall materials for 30 days, citing concerns over potential violations of a prior court injunction that mandated the use of allocated funds for border wall construction. The judge also called for documentation proving the administration’s compliance with this requirement, stating that any misrepresentation or unauthorized disposal could result in contempt of court and further legal consequences.
Reacting to the ruling, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said, “We have successfully blocked the Biden Administration from disposing of any further border wall materials before President Trump takes office. This follows our major victory forcing Biden to build the wall, and we will hold his Administration accountable for illegally subverting our Nation’s border security until their very last day in power, especially where their actions are clearly motivated by a desire to thwart President-elect Trump’s immigration agenda.”
Trump reacts: In a statement, President-Elect Trump said, “In a major, crucial WIN for America, and our National Security, a Federal Judge in Texas, based on papers we filed just a few days ago, has PROHIBITED the Biden Administration from selling any materials designated for the Border Wall, that has been wrecked by Biden and his cronies, and which I am going to rebuild in order to protect our Country from violent migrant crime, fentanyl smuggling, sex trafficking, terror attacks, and other heinous, Nation ending disasters. The Judge has also ordered an investigation into the illegal selling of the materials, which will expose just how corrupt and anti-American Radical Democrats are. I am honored to be joined in this vital case by the Great States of Texas and Missouri, and applaud Judge Drew Tipton for doing the right thing for our Country. We have to protect our Borders, and Save America. MAGA!”
Another view: Despite Trump’s claims, the Biden administration maintains that its actions regarding the sale of 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.
