The Washington Examiner obtained a CBP memo that alleges Gov. Kristi Noem (identified as "S1") has not signed off on contract awards covering roughly 102 miles of wall, more than 90 miles of Rio Grande barriers and two miles of fencing. Four senior officials say the hold-up stems from Noem's policy requiring personal review of DHS contracts over $100,000. DHS disputes the allegation, saying the Texas wall funding comes through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and that no border-wall contracts are pending the Secretary's review. If projects proceed, the Act could fund more than 1,400 miles of barriers.
CBP Memo Alleges Kristi Noem Slowed Nearly 200 Miles Of Border Barrier Projects
The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Im(The Washington Post)
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) memo obtained by The Washington Examiner alleges that Governor Kristi Noem has delayed work on nearly 200 miles of border barriers by not signing off on planned contract awards.
According to the document, contracts are prepared to be awarded for 102 miles of concrete wall, more than 90 miles of barriers along the Rio Grande and two miles of additional fencing. The memo identifies the official who has not signed the awards as "S1," a designation the Examiner linked to Gov. Noem.
DHS denies that Noem is holding up border wall contracts. Noem last year instituted a policy of signing off personally on contracts worth at least $100,000. / ALEX BRANDON / POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Four senior federal officials told the Examiner they believe the slowdown stems from Noem's decision last year to require her personal review of any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contract valued at $100,000 or more.
"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," one official said.
That signature requirement previously drew criticism after deadly Texas floods last summer, when some officials said Noem's review policy contributed to delays in deploying FEMA crews.
CBP has thus far completed 29.5 miles of border wall during Trump's second term, the Washington Examiner reported. / Michael Gonzalez / Getty Images
But DHS has pushed back on the claim that Noem is holding up border-wall work. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told The Washington Examiner:
"There are no wall contracts currently sitting in front of Secretary Noem. The Texas wall funding was appropriated through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and isn't part of the $100K contract approval policy. Bottom line is the premise of your story is inaccurate because wall contracts don't even follow the $100k process, nor are there any border wall related contracts pending the Secretary's review."
Note: Kristi Noem is the Governor of South Dakota; the memo and some quoted statements refer to an internal designation ("S1") and to a "Secretary" role in the context of DHS contract approvals. Reporting links "S1" to Noem; DHS disputes the characterization and says relevant wall funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is handled differently.
The Washington Examiner reported that, if current and planned projects move forward, funding under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could result in more than 1,400 miles of the U.S.–Mexico border being fitted with some form of physical barrier. CBP has also noted it built at least 29.5 miles of new wall during the administration's current term. The Daily Beast and other outlets have sought comment from DHS on the memo and the officials' assertions.
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