DoD inspector general to audit border wall contract

The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General is initiating an audit of the $400 million border wall construction contract the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co.

“We intend to initiate an audit of the solicitation and award of the $400 million contract the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. to design and build border infrastructure in Yuma County, Arizona,” Glenn Fine, the principal deputy inspector general performing the duties of the inspector general, said. “The Office of the Inspector General has significant experience evaluating the award of Department of Defense contracts. We will conduct a full audit of the award of this contract.”

The request for the audit was made last week by U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.

“I am pleased that the Pentagon Inspector General recognized the urgency of our request to review the Administration’s $400 million border wall contract to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. The company had never been awarded a construction contract before and their wall prototype was late and over budget,” Thompson said. “Given the President’s multiple endorsements of this company and the amount of taxpayer money at stake, I remain concerned about the possibility of inappropriate influence on the Army Corps’ contracting decision. We must ensure that all laws and regulations were properly followed.”