Texas recently spent $12 million on border wall materials through a federal auction, igniting political controversy. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized the Biden administration on Dec. 18, accusing it of selling border wall materials “for pennies on the dollar in secret,” and echoed claims from some Congress members who argued that the administration was selling usable materials to hinder future construction. These claims were amplified by President Trump, who called the auction an “almost a criminal act” during a Dec. 16 news conference. "I'm asking today, Joe Biden, to please stop selling the wall," Trump stated.

Despite these accusations, the auction was mandated by Congress in 2023. Texas had already received some materials from the federal government and even purchased more earlier this year. The material sale stems from the Trump administration’s $15 billion investment in the border wall, which resulted in about 140 miles of barriers along the Texas-Mexico border. After Trump’s departure and Biden halting most construction, unused materials were left over. Congress, in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, required the disposal of excess materials, leading to the sale.

Texas was one of the beneficiaries of this plan, with Gov. Patrick noting that the state purchased $12 million worth of materials, enough to build about four miles of wall. Most of the materials, however, were sold in June to GovPlanet, a military surplus company, which listed them for auction in December, some with starting bids as low as $5. This led to outrage from GOP lawmakers who perceived the auction as an attempt to sabotage future wall-building efforts, labeling it a “Great Biden Christmas border wall heist.”

Trump and Texas officials, including Attorney General Ken Paxton and Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, took action against the auction. Paxton filed a motion claiming the sale violated a court injunction that prevents the redirection of funds intended for border wall construction. The motion argues that selling the materials to GovPlanet effectively bypasses the injunction by redirecting the funds improperly.

In a December 13 post, Patrick dismissed the auctioned materials as “mostly junk,” but by Dec. 18, he had changed his stance, stating that the auction contained usable panels that had not been “clearly seen before.” He further confirmed that Texas would be willing to buy usable materials if they became available and would donate them to the federal government after Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

The entire situation continues to stir political debate, as Texas and its leaders remain focused on securing additional border wall materials for future use.