Homeland Security to review stimulus spending on borders
Move appears to respond to criticisms that the department is spending Recovery Act money without adequate evaluation.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano put a hold on Wednesday on new border construction projects while a review is conducted of how her department selected projects for funding.
Napolitano's move, described in a letter to Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., appeared to respond to criticisms that the department is spending money from the economic stimulus program without adequate evaluation.
Dorgan has questioned the allocation of $128 million to upgrade little-used border checkpoints in his state.
Napolitano defended the projects, arguing that northern border stations can be repaired for a fraction of the cost of work at busier checkpoints, but she told Dorgan the department will review the decisions.
"Americans should have confidence in the objectivity and openness with which Recovery funds are spent, and the Department of Homeland Security is committed to upholding this responsibility," Napolitano wrote.