The New Defense Bill Could Further Privatize Border Control
This year’s congressional defense spending bill would further entrench the military’s role at the US border and, for the first time, allow the Department of Defense to outsource border security work to private contractors.
A provision in the new defense spending bill gives the Defense Secretary authority to outsource the agency’s work at the border. (David Peinado / NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The $893 billion defense policy bill that passed the House of Representatives last week would grant the Department of Defense unprecedented new authority to deploy private military contractors to the United States’ southern border.
A provision in the legislation, tacked on in a July amendment, for the first time gives the Defense Secretary authority to outsource the agency’s work at the border, a proposal that critics warn could prove a bonanza for the shadowy mercenary and private security firms that work with the Pentagon, often with little public transparency.
The provision was drafted by a lawmaker who has received significant contributions from defense industry giants, including Lockheed Martin and RTX (formerly Raytheon). While the language was included in the final text of the House bill, the Senate has yet to pass a final version, so it’s not clear whether the proposal will advance to President Donald Trump’s desk.
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