Peach Tree Times

Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans are demanding that the Department of Defense halt the sale of border wall materials, alleging an attempt to circumvent the FINISH IT Act, according to Sen. Roger Wicker in a press release.

“We are deeply disappointed to learn that rather than using construction materials that were purchased to secure the southwest border for that purpose, the Department of Defense has begun auctioning these materials off for other purposes," the letter read. "These auctions represent a brazen attempt to circumvent the FINISH IT Act."

The FINISH It Act, which was included in the House and Senate FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), requires the Department to use the construction materials to secure the southwest border or to transfer them to border states for the same purpose. The Act passed the Senate with a broad bipartisan majority, with provisions also included in the House-passed version of the NDAA.

In a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the senators expressed their disappointment. The letter also demands immediate actions, such as suspending all auctions of border wall construction materials scheduled for Aug. 23 and 30, and directing the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Melissa Dalton. It criticizes her failure to provide Congress with accurate and timely information regarding the use of these materials.

Furthermore, the letter requests detailed information on the current sales, including the original procurement price, sale price to third-party purchasers, their identity and intended use. A full account of the Department's payments for storage, including the total amount paid, precise locations of storage and the recipients of payment, is also required.

The Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee also pledged not to consent to a confirmation hearing for the nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy until their concerns are addressed. The senators who signed the letter include prominent names from the Republican Party, such as Deb Fischer, Tom Cotton, Mike Rounds, Joni Ernst and others.

The Department of Defense is expected to respond to these demands no later than Sept. 5, providing a full account of its disposal of border wall construction materials worth approximately $260 million.