Trump’s Preferred Construction Firm Lands Biggest Border Contract Yet

Fisher Sand and Gravel, a North Dakota construction firm that has been repeatedly lauded by President Trump in meetings with border officials and military commanders, has been awarded the largest border wall contract ever. First reported by The Arizona Daily Star, the $1.3 billion deal to build 42 miles of black-painted fencing through Arizona came after intense lobbying efforts from company CEO Tommy Fisher.

After the company’s initial bids were passed over, Fisher launched a PR offensive on the president’s favorite channel, Fox News, and also donated to Trump’s GOP allies. Back in March, President Trump pushed for Fisher Sand and Gravel to receive a federal contract, and according to The Washington Post, “The push for a specific company has alarmed military commanders and DHS officials.”

Fisher Sand and Gravel only has one other major border contract, and the $400 million deal announced on December 2 went under review by the Pentagon’s inspector general later that month and the results are still pending. The new $1.3 billion deal averages out to $30 million per mile of border barrier, which is far more expensive than other federal contracts awarded for construction of Trump’s border wall.

The 42-mile area does carry significant engineering complexities, and according to WaPo, “One official with knowledge of the contract said Fisher’s bid was the lowest for construction along that particular span.”

Another factor that has significantly raised the cost of the wall is President Trump’s insistence that it be painted black. While this may seem like a simple task, the reality is that this design change adds about $500 million to the cost of the wall according to federal estimates leaked to the media. Engineers say that the black paint will increase long-term maintenance costs as well.

The White House did not return Washington Post requests for comment, and the deal has yet to be officially announced by the Defense Department or Customs and Border Protection.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement delivered to WaPo that “It speaks volumes to the administration’s lack of transparency that they didn’t announce this award — the largest ever — and we continue to learn about contracts to companies without a proven track record from the media. Given the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing investigation into Fisher, the administration should pause construction and contracting decisions until the investigation has concluded favorably and it is safe to resume nonessential construction projects.”