Texas officials say they are preparing to buy and store border wall materials that the federal government is auctioning off until the Trump administration takes office in January.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick responded to reports that border wall materials left near the border are being auctioned off after border wall construction was abruptly halted in 2021.
“I’m going to bid on all of that wall, and I’m going to buy it in Texas and give it to Donald Trump,” Patrick said on “The Ingraham Angle.”
“I have a billion dollars in my pocket to do it,” he said.
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Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta on October 15, 2024. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
His comments were supported by Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who said she was “fully prepared” to support the effort.
“If you buy it, we have a place to store it on state land! [Texas General Land Office] We are standing by to assist! , she said, calling the Biden administration’s auction of border wall materials “disgraceful.”
The Biden administration abruptly halted construction of 450 miles of border wall in January 2021, which had been built during the first Trump administration. Border hawks say the wall is an important tool to deter illegal immigration, while some Democrats say the wall project is xenophobic and ineffective.
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A still image from this video shows border wall construction in Del Rio, Texas. (Governor Greg Abbott’s Office)
Auctions for parts of the border wall began in 2023, with parts listed on GovPlanet.com, an online auction marketplace. The Pentagon’s Logistics Agency told media that the surplus supplies were turned over for disposal by the Army Corps of Engineers and are now being put up for sale.
These auctions continue, and Arizona officials told FOX News Digital that they have been occurring weekly for some time. The practice continued last week when the Daily Wire published a video showing unused wall parts being transported by flatbed truck in Arizona, raising concerns that the material could be used by the incoming Trump administration. Regardless, it attracted attention.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to restart border wall construction when he takes office next month. On Monday, he called on the administration to halt the sale of wall components, describing it as “almost a criminal act.”
Defense officials told Fox News that the Pentagon is disposing of excess wall construction under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, and that the Secretary of Defense has no plans to use, transfer or transfer any remaining wall material purchased with Pentagon funds. He said he is also requesting submissions of plans to donate. . The plan was submitted in March.
The official said border states, including Texas, are being prioritized for supplies. Both Texas and California have requested and received border materials, he said.
“Through our reuse, transfer, and donation process, nearly 60% of these materials were transferred to authorized recipients, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the states of Texas and California,” officials said. Ta. “The remaining 40% was sold to GOVPLANET under a competitive sales agreement process beginning in June 2024. The materials currently being sold through GOVPLANET online auctions no longer belong to the U.S. Government and are There is no legal authority to recall the material or prevent further sale of the material.”Resale of material that is no longer in your possession. ”
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Texas has already shown an eagerness to support the incoming administration’s efforts to secure the border and tackle a massive deportation campaign.
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Fox News Digital first reported last month that Texas had offered the incoming administration 1,400 acres of land to carry out a large-scale deportation operation. Border Czar Thomas Homan said he was already planning how to use the land effectively.
FOX News’ Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
Contact him at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at: Twitter.
