Fact check: Biden executive order halts border wall construction, redirects funding
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Fact check: Biden executive order halts border wall construction, redirects funding
After President Joe Biden signed an executive order Jan. 20 regarding the miles of border wall under construction during the Trump administration, some took to Facebook to claim — inaccurately — that Biden will tear down the wall.
A Facebook user by the name of Giggle Palooza posted Jan. 24 , “Just seen where Biden signed an Executive Order to tear down the border wall. You all happy now?”
Since it was published, the post has received more than 3,000 interactions and more than 2,900 comments, many pointing out that the post is false. The Facebook user has not responded to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
More: Fact check: Posts criticizing Biden order on gender discrimination lack context
The claim is referring to Biden’s executive order that ended border wall construction projects and will redirect the project funds elsewhere.
In his proclamation, Biden wrote that the government would no longer divert taxpayer dollars to construct a border wall. It is one of several executive actions the president signed since taking office on Jan. 20.
Biden’s executive order paused work on each construction project on the southern border wall within seven days and paused the obligation of funds related to the construction of that wall. He also rescinded former President Donald Trump’s national declaration of emergency at the southern border from February 2019.
The order also calls for compiling detailed information on all southern border wall construction contracts, the completion status of each wall construction project, and the funds used for wall construction since Feb. 15, 2019. T
he secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, as well as other department heads, will develop a plan for the redirection of funds concerning the southern border wall, the executive order states.
The plan will be developed within 60 days; those Cabinet secretaries will then take steps to either resume, modify or terminate projects.
The executive order makes no mention of tearing down the border wall.
Even in the past, Biden has made it clear he has no intention of tearing down existing border walls. In August, Biden told NPR that he would end construction of the border wall, but he would not tear down the parts of the barrier that were built during the Trump administration.
“There will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration,” he said.
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Even so, some environmental groups have called upon Biden to tear down some newer parts of the wall, saying areas of construction damaged the environment, according to Arizona’s Family and Scientific American .
Our ruling: Missing context
The claim that President Joe Biden signed an executive order to tear down the border wall built during the Trump administration is MISSING CONTEXT. Biden signed an executive order to stop all projects and redirect funding away from border wall construction. He has said he would not tear down the existing wall along the nation's southern border.
Our fact-check sources:
- White House Briefing - Proclamation on the Termination Of Emergency With Respect To The Southern Border Of The United States And Redirection Of Funds Diverted To Border Wall Construction
- Washington Post, Jan. 20, " Biden orders a ‘pause’ on border wall construction, bringing crews to halt "
- Associated Press, Jan. 21, " Joe Biden halts border wall building after Donald Trump’s final surge "
- NPR, Aug. 5, 2020, " Biden Would End Border Wall Construction, But Wouldn’t Tear Down Trump’s Additions "
- Arizona's Family, Dec. 10, 2020, " Environmental groups want Biden to tear down portions of new border wall "
- Scientific American, Jan. 25, " Some Ecological Damage from Trump’s Rushed Border Wall Could be Repaired "
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Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
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Here are the facts that were sorely missing from another 'article' posted here.
Biden’s executive order paused work on each construction project on the southern border wall within seven days and paused the obligation of funds related to the construction of that wall. He also rescinded former President Donald Trump’s national declaration of emergency at the southern border from February 2019.
The order also calls for compiling detailed information on all southern border wall construction contracts, the completion status of each wall construction project, and the funds used for wall construction since Feb. 15, 2019.
The secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security, as well as other department heads, will develop a plan for the redirection of funds concerning the southern border wall, the executive order states.
The plan will be developed within 60 days; those Cabinet secretaries will then take steps to either resume, modify or terminate projects.
The executive order makes no mention of tearing down the border wall.
Even in the past, Biden has made it clear he has no intention of tearing down existing border walls. In August, Biden told NPR that he would end construction of the border wall, but he would not tear down the parts of the barrier that were built during the Trump administration.
“There will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration,” he said.
How much of those redirected funds will end up in the pockets of Biden and those 'secretaries'?
The people have a right to know.
You're confused. All the money that was supposed to go to the border wall during trumpturds criminal enterprise of an administration, went into his pockets.
I'll just go ahead and assume you have the usual amount of proof for that wild-assed claim--NONE.
And in Bannon's pockets.
[Deleted]
How did the Trump administration award the contracts for building the "wall"?
Why did the Trump administration eliminate the practice of, open competition and giving losing bidders a chance to protest decisions?
How big a campaign donation was required to win a multi-billion dollar contract for building the "wall"?
Border wall contractor once paid $3 million to settle federal fraud investigation
Army Corps faces questions about vetting border wall company
Bad Actors Among Border Wall Contractors
Trump Waives Contracting Laws for Border Wall
So of course you have no proof for THAT claim either.
Do you ever provide any proof at all for any of your wild claims?
[Deleted]
I have no idea why you are posting that crap to me. It has nothing to do with my post.
Showing that Biden is living in denial. There is no crisis at the border except for the one that he and the Democrats made. Of course they need as many illegals in the country as possible for their future general amnesty.
No, that would be trumpturd's supporters who are in denial.