The Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General sent a letter to Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, announcing the initiation of an audit of the $400 million border wall construction contract the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. Thompson requested the review last week.
Chairman Thompson issued the following statement regarding the audit:
“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. 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.”
Glenn Fine, the Principal Deputy Inspector General Performing the Duties of the Inspector General, issued the following statement regarding the audit:
“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. 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.”
