House Republicans seek answers on DHS no-bid contracts

The House Oversight Committee this week announced an investigation into the Department of Homeland Security's awarding of no-bid contracts and has demanded that DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas provide the panel with documents 

"The Biden Administration's self-inflicted border crisis has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and the American people are demanding accountability. Not only have the Biden Administration's policies exacerbated the border crisis, but it also appears the Administration is exploiting the situation to reward its political allies and cover up Secretary Mayorkas's disastrous decisions," said Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., in a press release.

"DHS has a clear pattern of awarding sole source, no-bid contracts worth millions of dollars and this habit is putting taxpayer funds at severe risk of waste and abuse," he continued. "DHS leadership has failed to adequately justify the department's decision to bypass normal contract competition and seems to be prioritizing political expedience. As Chairman, I made it my mission to protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse. Oversight Republicans fully expect DHS to provide the Committee all information related to these no-bid contracts." 

In a letter to Mayorkas, Comer informed him that the panel sought documents connected to a DHS contract issued last month without opening the contract to competition. 

"DHS justified its decision not to use fair and open competition in procuring legal services by citing 'unusual and compelling urgency,'" Comer wrote. "We are concerned the alleged 'unusual and compelling urgency' justification is to avoid congressional scrutiny and oversight."

"We request documents and communications to understand DHS's use of a sole source, no-bid contract in this matter," he concluded, imposing a March 8 deadline.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.