Keep Factually independent
Whether you agree or disagree with our analysis, these conversations matter for democracy. We don't take money from political groups - even a $5 donation helps us keep it that way.
Fact check: Biden admin quietly clears away border wall parts for auction ahead of Trump’s second term
1. Summary of the results
1. Summary of the results:
The Department of Defense is indeed selling border wall materials, but this is happening through a legally mandated process. About 60% of materials have already been transferred to Customs and Border Protection and eligible border states, while 40% are being sold through GovPlanet, a government surplus marketplace. This process began in June 2024 following legislation introduced by Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in December 2023.
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:
- The process is not "quiet" but follows standard government surplus procedures and public auctions
- The sales are mandated by Section 2890 of the National Defense Authorization Act, not a Biden administration initiative
- Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has described the materials as "mostly junk"
- Biden actually continued some border wall construction in 2023 when Congress refused to reallocate funds
- The Tucson sector recorded 55,223 illegal crossings in fiscal year 2024, providing context for the border security situation
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:
The statement contains several misleading elements:
- Uses "quietly" to imply secrecy when the process is public and legally mandated
- Suggests this is specifically timed for "Trump's second term" when the process began months earlier and follows congressional legislation
- Omits that a Republican congressman introduced the legislation requiring the sales
- Creates a false narrative of political motivation when this is a standard government property disposition process
Those benefiting from this narrative include:
- Political figures like Trump and Rep. Eli Crane who can use it to rally support around border security issues
- Media outlets that benefit from increased engagement through controversial political coverage
- Border security contractors who might benefit from future contracts to replace these materials