Full Breakdown
Texas Border Wall Contracts: Procurement, Legal Disputes, and Local Impact
5/22/2026, 5:53:30 AM
Federal Contracts Concentrated on Two Firms
In 2025 DHS awarded nearly $14 billion for Texas border-wall work, with about 73 %—roughly $10.2 billion—going to Fisher Sand & Gravel and Barnard Construction. The awards include a $1.2 billion Big Bend contract and a $220 million advertising contract linked to former DHS secretary Kristi Noem. Posillico Civil Inc. sued on May 13, alleging the process excluded competition.
Background, Key Actors, and Procurement Waivers
During Trump’s first term the administration used “no-bid” contracts, inflating costs. In 2024 Secretary Kristi Noem waived dozens of contracting laws for the 1,954-mile southern border, an unprecedented move. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act later secured $46.5 billion for wall construction. Fisher Sand & Gravel, founded by Tommy Fisher, and Barnard Construction have received funding from We Build the Wall, whose board once included Steve Bannon.
Contract Values and Expanded Scope
Fisher Sand & Gravel has received over $9 billion in federal wall contracts, including a $1.2 billion Big Bend award. A 2022 settlement requires a $3 million bond for 15 years. Posillico’s complaint says scopes now also cover cattle fencing, guards, and coordination with the International Boundary and Water Commission, beyond the original wall work.
Official Statements
DHS said it “has no involvement with the selection of subcontractors.” A CBP spokesperson said contracts “are based on the contractor’s qualifications to perform the work in a timely manner and at prices deemed fair and reasonable,” and the White House declined comment. Posillico alleges it incurred “substantial bid preparation and proposal costs” for non-competitive solicitations.
Criticism, Lawsuits, and Community Response
Experts Charles Tiefer and Scott Amey warned that “the rules don’t really apply,” raising ethical concerns. Center for Biological Diversity has filed FOIA lawsuits alleging DHS failed to disclose documents. Residents of Presidio and counties have protested, and CBP map of locations was removed and later revised to show “vehicle barriers” and “patrol roads” instead of steel walls.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I disagreed with doing this very small (tiny) section of wall, in a tricky area, by a private group which raised money by ads,” — Donald Trump, former President (X post)
- “It was only done to make me look bad,” — Donald Trump, former President (X post)
- “They got huge blank checks, and they want to write them as fast as possible,” — Charles Tiefer, federal-contract law expert
- “There’s a cost, and ethics and contracting questions that all come up whenever you mention anything with the border wall,” — Scott Amey, Project on Government Oversight
What’s Next
Federal judges have yet to rule on Posillico’s request to seal case documents. The Center for Biological Diversity’s FOIA suit has a June 1 deadline, and a separate congressional-authority lawsuit remains pending. CBP’s map revisions suggest a shift from steel barriers to vehicle-access infrastructure, a change that will shape upcoming construction in the Big Bend region.
