Border Wall Waste Accountability Act

Bill Number

H.R. 326

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.

Last Updated

2025-02-27T16:43:10Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Border Wall Waste Accountability Act (H.R. 326) aims to promote transparency in federal spending by requiring an independent government audit of unused materials acquired for building a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, it focuses on costs incurred during a four-year period under a previous administration.

Key Provisions

• Mandated Study: The Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, non-partisan agency that audits federal programs, must conduct and complete a study on the total cost of unused construction materials purchased for the border wall.
• Time Frame: The study covers materials obtained from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025 (the duration of one presidential term).
• Reporting Deadline: The GAO must submit the study to Congress no later than 90 days after the bill's enactment.
• Short Title: The legislation is titled the "Border Wall Waste Accountability Act."

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new, one-time requirement for a GAO study, with no direct amendments to prior laws. It builds on existing GAO authority to investigate federal expenditures but specifies a narrow focus on border wall materials, which was not previously mandated by statute.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The GAO will need to allocate resources for the study, potentially involving coordination with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or other agencies that managed border wall procurement. The findings could influence future budget oversight or decisions on disposing of or repurposing materials.
• On Citizens: Taxpayers may benefit from greater accountability over public funds spent on border security, potentially highlighting waste and informing debates on immigration policy funding.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though the study could indirectly affect U.S.-Mexico discussions on border infrastructure by drawing attention to past spending inefficiencies.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Congress: Receives the GAO report and could use it for legislative oversight, budgeting, or policy adjustments related to border security.
• Government Accountability Office (GAO): Responsible for executing the study, which may require accessing procurement records from federal agencies.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Related Agencies: Subject to scrutiny over material acquisitions and storage during the specified period.
• Taxpayers and Advocacy Groups: Indirectly affected through potential revelations about fiscal responsibility in national security projects.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces GAO's statutory role in auditing executive branch spending (under the Government Accountability Office Act of 2008, for example), ensuring compliance without new enforcement mechanisms. The 90-day deadline adds urgency but is feasible given GAO's expertise.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's constitutional power of the purse (Article I, Section 9), allowing oversight of executive spending without infringing on separation of powers.
• Political: The bill's focus on a specific time frame may fuel partisan discussions on border policy and fiscal waste, potentially influencing election-year debates or future appropriations for immigration enforcement. It promotes accountability but could be seen as targeted scrutiny of past administration actions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Van Duyne, Beth [R-TX-24]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Balderson, Troy [R-OH-12], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-09: Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
• 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
• 2025-01-09: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Border Wall Waste Accountability Act — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (2 pages)