Sen. Cotton Demands Transparency On Border Wall Materials Disposal

Tom cotton

Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, has raised concerns regarding the Department of Defense's role in the disposal of excess border wall materials from the previous Trump administration. In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Cotton demanded transparency and accountability in the handling of these materials.

While acknowledging President Biden's decision to halt border wall construction, Cotton questioned the DOD's involvement in selling off sections of the wall at significantly reduced prices. Reports indicated that these materials were being sold as scrap for minimal amounts.

A DOD official stated that the disposal of excess border wall materials was authorized by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. Approximately 60% of the materials were allocated to authorized recipients like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, while the remaining 40% was purchased by GOVPLANET, a marketplace for surplus government equipment.

The official clarified that the DOD lacked the authority to prevent the sale of these materials once they were no longer government-owned. Cotton's letter to Austin requested written assurance that all records related to the disposition of border wall materials would be preserved, along with a detailed account of how the materials were disposed of as per the NDAA.

Materials sold at reduced prices as scrap after Biden halted wall construction.

Senator Cotton questions DOD's role in selling off border wall materials.

DOD authorized disposal under the 2024 NDAA, with 60% allocated to CBP.

Cotton also demanded a list of companies to which the materials were sold. He expressed concerns about potential national security implications and emphasized the need for transparency in understanding the DOD's role in the process.

President-elect Trump criticized the Biden administration's actions, calling the sale of border wall materials a 'criminal act' and warning of increased costs to rebuild the wall in the future. Trump highlighted the importance of preserving these materials for future use and expressed dismay over the current administration's decisions.

As the DOD did not immediately provide a comment on the matter, Cotton's efforts to ensure accountability and transparency in the handling of border wall materials continue to draw attention.