Homeland Security waives contracting laws for border wall

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ELLIOT SPAGAT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday that it will waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Homeland Security said waiving procurement regulations will allow 177 miles (283 kilometers) of wall to be built more quickly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The 10 waived laws include requirements for having open competition, justifying selections and receiving all bonding from a contractor before any work can begin.

The acting Homeland Security secretary, Chad Wolf, is exercising authority under a 2005 law that gives him sweeping powers to waive laws for building border barriers.

“We hope that will accelerate some of the construction that’s going along the Southwest border,” Wolf told Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” on Tuesday.



FILE - In this Nov. 7, 2019 file photo, the first panels of levee border wall are seen at a construction site along the U.S.-Mexico border, in Donna, Texas. The Trump administration said Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2020, that it will waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of the border wall with Mexico. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/1689fa48a2e177d1f397b95ff0cb97db

[redstatebluegirl]

1. The next 11 months will be off the charts. He will do as much damage as he can.

[msongs]

2. millions of latinos vote for trump. will they be thrown over the wall soon? nt

[Zoonart]

3. So... slave labor then?

[htuttle]

4. If they build it out of Gambino concrete, it will fall over in a few months

They're going to try to rip off billions this time through kickbacks and bribes.

[Judi Lynn]

5. No justification for this possible. Unbearably dirty. n/t

[bluestarone]

6. I have NO MORE words left to describe my feelings for

The RETHUGS and this country!

[Evolve Dammit]

9. I'm with ya. Vile beyond words.

[snowybirdie]

7. Wanna bet

Some of his Mar a Lago buddies have interests in construction companies?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Corruption. Using taxpayer funds for election purposes. Waive the law for Kinglet tRump

Golden Crested Kinglet

[BadGimp]

10. What could possibly go wrong?

[Blues Heron]

11. I don't want to be walled in

Looks like a prison wall not a border.

[Tikki]

17. My granddaughter brought up something interesting...

She said they learned that North Korea has a border barrier to keep North Koreans
from leaving that Country.
Then she asked if the wall here at our border might, also, be used to keep us from leaving
the US?

Tikki

[Blues Heron]

18. That wall chills me to the bone- the look of it, the fact its being built

She might be right.

[Blue_playwright]

12. The most important part of this is...

No bids and competition. They will all do to Trump cronies who will, I’m sure, funnel money back into his business. He’s doing his best to make as much money as he a before getting voted out.

[TomVilmer]

13. Trump's border wall, vulnerable to flash floods, needs large storm gates left open for months...

"... President Trump's border wall probably will require the installation of hundreds of storm gates to prevent flash floods from undermining or knocking it over, gates that must be left open for months every summer during "monsoon season" in the desert, according to U.S. border officials, agents and engineers familiar with the plans. The open, unmanned gates in remote areas already have allowed for the easy entry of smugglers and migrants into the United States. ..."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trumps-border-wall-vulnerable-to-flash-floods-needs-large-storm-gates-left-open-for-months/2020/01/30/be709346-3710-11ea-bb7b-265f4554af6d_story.html

[ancianita]

14. How does an agency just waive A law, nevermind lawS?

[Nitram]

15. Yeah, basically the Trump Administration can pay for the wall any damn way they please.

Rule of law be damned, full speed ahead!

[Tikki]

16. trumpers will wear a t shirt that says..'trump's cheap wall can fall down on me'.

wonder if it should fall on any trumper would they be able to sue...and who?

Tikki