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President-elect Donald Trump has filed an amicus brief in a Texas court in an effort to stop the Biden administration from auctioning off materials intended for the construction of the border wall. The filing demands the immediate cessation of “any ongoing sale of border-barrier materials” until a comprehensive investigation into the handling of these materials is conducted.
“The outgoing Biden administration’s reported ‘fire sales’ of border-wall materials to private parties raise grave concerns about the legality of their conduct,” the brief states. “The court should order an immediate stop to all such sales and closely scrutinize these actions to ensure compliance with the law, the Constitution, and court orders.”
BREAKING: @realDonaldTrump has filed an amicus brief in the Southern District of Texas calling on a federal judge to stop the Biden administration from selling off any more border wall material and examine whether it already broke the law.
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) December 20, 2024
Full story to come. pic.twitter.com/luD77PEQ3Q
The Biden administration was previously exposed for selling off unfinished border-wall components, originally purchased during Trump’s first term, at significantly reduced prices. Trump criticized these actions as intentional sabotage aimed at undermining his upcoming efforts to secure the border. “They’re trying to sell it for five cents on the dollar, knowing we’re getting ready to put it up,” Trump said.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, declared, “Any attempt by Biden officials to obstruct President Trump’s plan to build the Border Wall is unlawful, unconstitutional, and possibly criminal.” He further pointed to what he described as Biden’s “catastrophic open-border policies” and called for the courts to investigate.
An investigation led by Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) revealed that the Biden administration has recovered just 0.02% of the original cost of these materials, bolstering Trump’s claim of intentional mismanagement.
The Department of Defense (DOD), however, has asserted it has “no legal authority” to halt the resale of these materials. According to a statement from an unnamed Defense official, “Nearly 60% of those materials were transferred to authorized recipients, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the states of Texas and California. The remaining 40% was sold through competitive sales contracts, and the DOD has no legal authority to recall the material or stop its resale.”
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton joined the criticism, stating, “What they’re doing is almost a criminal act. They know we’re going to use it, and if we don’t have it, we’ll have to rebuild it at double the original cost.”
“President Trump has an overwhelming mandate from the American people to build the wall,” Paxton added. “I will do everything in my power to prevent sabotage by the outgoing administration.”
This legal battle underscores the ongoing tensions over border security as the Biden administration faces criticism for its policies, and Trump continues to prioritize securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
