Trump administration locks down border wall contracts, complicating Biden's pledge to stop construct

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: CNN

The Trump administration is continuing to award border wall contracts in the waning days of Donald Trump's presidency, including in areas where private land hasn't yet been acquired, an unusual move that will complicate President-elect Joe Biden's pledge to halt construction.

Asked by CNN Tuesday whether there are plans to continue to finalize contracts, even in areas where the real estate is not owned by the federal government, acting Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Mark Morgan responded "yes."

"We believe that probably by January 17,18,19, we will have well over 700 miles of that 800 funded...The contract will have already been awarded," Morgan said. "The major milestone is having a contract awarded."

Striking a contract before privately-owned land -- which makes up a considerable portion of the Rio Grande Valley -- has been acquired by the government is outside of the usual process for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which provides direction and oversight of border projects, according to Charles Tiefer, a government contracting law professor at the University of Baltimore.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/trump-administration-locks-down-border-wall-contracts-complicating-biden-s-pledge-to-stop-construction/ar-BB1cv7ES?li=BBnbcA1

[samnsara]

1. they can use their contract to make paving stones or something cute and useful...

[William Seger]

16. ... like "caravan rest stops"

... just to PISS OFF the trumpers.

[rzemanfl]

2. I seem to recall something about "conditions precedent" to contracts.

Not owning the land would seem to me to nullify any expectation of an enforceable contract. I am going back fifty some odd years on this, so I could be wrong.

[NCjack]

4. A very good government contract officer can find justification for termination.

[rzemanfl]

6. I think an average one could.

How can the contractor say they were deprived of the benefit of the bargain?

[calimary]

18. Somebody should!

The key operative phrase for Biden/Harris & Co - and EVERY Democrat in national office MUST be "how can/do we get around (fill in the trump obstruction-attempt here)?"

GOTTA be.

THAT is the phrase that pays in this new BIDEN-is-President/HARRIS-is-VP year. They know trump is leaving as many landmines in the ground as he can think of. I hope Biden's assembled some shrewd and devious thinkers on the overall team - as many as he can stand. So he can stay "above it all" while his Justice Department starts drawing and quartering as many trump leftovers as possible.

[Phoenix61]

3. If I sign a contract with a builder to build me a house

assuming I’ll be able to purchase land but then can’t I would think the contract would be void.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Trump handing out money to his friends hand over fist until the last day.

We will probably have to pay off those contracts whether they do the work or not.

[They_Live]

15. And in turn his friends pay him back

with interest. Public money out with private payback You know it is happening LLC
.

[Irish_Dem]

20. Of course, he doesn't give anything without expecting something back. nt

[keithbvadu2]

7. Use eminent domain laws to take a ten foot swath inside the edge of Mar-A-Lago and build the wall th

Use eminent domain laws to take a ten foot swath inside the edge of Mar-A-Lago and build the wall there to keep illegals out of there.

Trump has used illegals (their term) at his golf clubs.

He has several properties that could use protection.

[Under The Radar]

8. Congress has the power of the purse, just don't fund it.

Contractors will not work for free.

[BlueIdaho]

9. There is nothing done

That can’t be undone.

[COL Mustard]

10. We Can Always T For C The Contracts

Terminate for convenience.

[DeminPennswoods]

13. Exactly

All federal contracts have termination clauses. It might cost a bit of money, but none of these companies will have started work before Biden's sworn in.

[onetexan]

14. Bingo!!

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

11. seems like a good lawyer could show these contracts were not done in good faith

and stop the process. The contractors are only gonna care about the money (apologies to any contractors in the audience). Its not liek there's proof of a huge problem without this fucking wall.........

[truthisfreedom]

12. All of these contractors are well aware of what's happening and why.

This is all bad faith negotiation, and if they're not aware of it, it's because their heads are completely up their asses.

[twodogsbarking]

17. New TV show coming soon........

The Bigly Loser

[canetoad]

19. All Joe's team has to do is...

Read every contract until their eyes bleed. There will be errors, innaccuracies, lies, untruths. It's how they work.

[marble falls]

21. I'd like to know how one contracts on property neither entity owns.