The Government Accountability Office has just issued an opinion declaring that President Biden was within his rights earlier this year when he called a halt to all current and future border wall funding.
The GAO describes the President’s decision as a delay, but not a funds impoundment.
Congress had earlier appropriated funds to the Department of Homeland Security specifically for building either fencing or a barrier system along the U.S./Mexico border.
In calling for a pause in the project, the President was also ordering a pause in the obligation of funding for the wall’s construction.
According to the GAO, both the Homeland Security department and the Office of Management and Budget have demonstrated that delaying the project was needed to “perform environmental reviews and consult with various stakeholders.”
In other words, Biden’s order did not comprise an illegal stoppage of some $1.4 billion in funding for the wall project previously approved by Congress.
Last week the White House announced that more than $2 billion that was diverted from military construction projects by President Trump to be used to build the border wall will now be re-routed to those projects.
Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced a plan to build a wall for the Texas part of the border with Mexico.
Although Abbot has not yet provided a construction schedule for a Texas wall, he said he would spearhead an effort to raise funds throughout the country to pay for the project.
By Garry Boulard
