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Pentagon watchdog investigating $400 million border wall contract

A McAllen K-9 police officer walks past rebar that will make up the border wall before DHS Acting Homeland Secretary Chad Wolf tours and speaks to the local media at the border wall under construction on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, south of Donna, Texas./The Monitor via AP)
A McAllen K-9 police officer walks past rebar that will make up the border wall before DHS Acting Homeland Secretary Chad Wolf tours and speaks to the local media at the border wall under construction on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, south of Donna, Texas./The Monitor via AP) A McAllen K-9 police officer walks past rebar that will make up the border wall before DHS Acting Homeland Secretary Chad Wolf tours and speaks to the local media at the border wall under construction on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, south of Donna, Texas./The Monitor via AP)

By COLLEEN LONG / Associated Press 4 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Defense Department’s internal watchdog is investigating a $400 million border wall contract awarded to a firm that used multiple appearances on Fox News to push for the job.

The Pentagon’s inspector general sent a letter Thursday to House Homeland Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson telling him the contract awarded to North Dakota-based firm Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. would be audited. Thompson, D-Miss., asked for the review last week, in part over concerns the proposals did not meet operational requirements and prototypes came in late and over budget.

Tommy Fisher, the head of the family business, said Thursday there would be “nothing to find” in an audit.

“We were told we were the lowest price and the best value,” he said. “We look forward to working with the Army Corps of Engineers.”

The border wall is one of Trump’s top priorities. He campaigned on a promise to build a “big beautiful wall” between the U.S. and Mexico,” said Mexico would pay for it, and promised to build 450 to 500 miles by the end of 2020. Mexico is not paying for the wall and, as of Nov. 1, Trump had built 78 miles.