Laredo Times

The new presidential administration might cancel $1.375 billion in border wall contracts, but Laredo officials want to make sure any funds remain committed to local projects.

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said that after inauguration, President Joe Biden could cancel contracts with little loss of funding. The funds could be reappropriated for other purposes for Customs and Border Protection or at other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, The Laredo Morning Times reported.

Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz heard what he wanted to from Cuellar.

“I think now with this information, we can take it to management and Council and we can structure a direction for our city as well,” Saenz said.

He said the monies for those contracts within the area should be spent on other projects here before being spent elsewhere. Biden can use a lot of flexibility and discretion.

“It also brings in community involvement and community input and this is where the respective entities would have to gather and decide exactly what monies would be repurposed,” Saenz told The Laredo Morning Times.

The funds could be used for a “barrier system,” which could mean technology, roads and lighting for existing barriers or to replace existing fencing.

Cuellar said the Department of Defense began preparations in case of a Biden stop-worker order on border wall projects. The nature of the termination may require a cost settlement.

Because the termination would be for convenience, a cost settlement is most likely required.