Homeland Security Secretary's Contract Policy Reportedly Delays Border Barrier Construction
Officials working on President Donald Trump's signature border wall project are reportedly waiting for approval from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to begin constructing more than 190 miles of barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to recent reports based on internal documents, this delay stems from Noem's policy requiring personal sign-off on all contracts exceeding $100,000.
Internal Memo Reveals Construction Delays
An internal Customs and Border Protection memo obtained by news outlets indicates that, as of late January, approximately 102 miles of steel wall and 93 miles of water buoy barriers were awaiting approval from Secretary Noem. The document reveals that while contracts have already been awarded to construction companies, they remain pending approval from "S1" - the internal designation for Noem.
"She has required all contracts over 100k be signed off by her; I don't think she fully understands how many 100k contracts DHS has. It has slowed several things down," an unnamed official told the Washington Examiner in an email correspondence.
Conflicting Accounts from Homeland Security
A senior Department of Homeland Security official confirmed to Axios that the border wall contracts had not yet been signed, suggesting the approval process was indeed causing delays. However, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin presented a different perspective, denying that Noem's signature was holding up construction progress.
"There are currently no border wall-related contracts pending the Secretary, and just last year the Secretary reviewed over a thousand contracts related to border security," McLaughlin stated in response to media inquiries.
McLaughlin further explained to the Washington Examiner that border wall contracts don't follow the standard $100,000 approval policy because their funding was allocated through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. Instead, these contracts follow a specific process: first going to a dedicated DHS office overseeing OBB spending, then to that office's executive secretary, and finally to Secretary Noem for approval.
Scrutiny Over Contract Approval Policy
Regardless of the specific border wall contract process, Noem's $100,000 approval requirement has faced significant scrutiny. Last year, sources accused the Homeland Security Secretary of delaying Federal Emergency Management Agency funding when catastrophic flooding struck Texas, though DHS denied these allegations at the time.
The policy has raised questions about bureaucratic efficiency within the massive Department of Homeland Security, which handles thousands of contracts annually across its various agencies and programs.
Trump's Border Wall Project Timeline
President Trump's border wall has been a cornerstone of his immigration policy since his first administration, when he initially promised to construct a 2,000-mile barrier along the entire U.S.-Mexico border within years. However, numerous challenges prevented completion during his first term, including:
- Funding limitations and congressional opposition
- Logistical difficulties with resources and materials
- Challenging terrain that makes physical wall construction problematic in certain areas
While the Biden administration continued some border wall construction in specific regions, much of Trump's ambitious plan was shelved until he returned to office in January 2025. The president has now established a new goal of completing the border wall before his second term concludes in 2029.
Recent Developments and Future Plans
Last year, the Department of Homeland Security announced several multi-billion-dollar contracts to advance border wall construction. These projects will incorporate a "Smart Wall" system utilizing advanced technology including:
- Enhanced lighting systems for improved visibility
- Surveillance cameras with monitoring capabilities
- Advanced detection technology for unauthorized crossings
This technological approach is particularly important for areas with difficult terrain where traditional physical barriers prove challenging to construct. According to Customs and Border Protection data, approximately 30 miles of border wall have been completed since the beginning of Trump's second administration.
Secretary Noem is scheduled to speak about border wall progress in Arizona, where she is expected to address these construction timelines and the department's approach to securing the southern border. The ongoing debate about contract approval processes highlights the complex bureaucratic challenges facing one of the Trump administration's most prominent policy initiatives.
