Pentagon Inspector General to review $400 million border wall contract given to firm Trump favored

By Nick Miroff
12/12/2019, 1:00:44 p.m.

The Department of Defense Inspector General’s office will audit a $400 million border wall contract the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded to a North Dakota construction company run by a GOP donor who President Trump repeatedly urged military officials to hire.

Glenn A. Fine, the top official at the Pentagon IG’s office, authorized a review of the contract in response to a Dec. 4 letter from U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, asking inspectors to take a closer look. Fine informed Thompson of the audit in a letter Thursday.

“You raised concerns about the possibility of inappropriate influence on USACE’s contracting decision, and questioned whether the bid submitted by Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. met solicitation standards,” Fine wrote in his letter to Thompson. “You also questioned whether USACE made the award in accordance with federal procurement law and regulations.”

“In response to your request, we have decided to initiate an audit of the solicitation and award of this contract,” Fine wrote. “We are assessing the methodology of that audit and will formally announce the audit soon.”

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