A North Dakota company, Fisher Sand and Gravel Co., was awarded a $400 million contract to build the border wall, after President Donald Trump pushed for him.
The Defense Department said in a statement Monday that the company will build 31 miles of the wall along the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge in Yuma County, Arizona.
“We’re excited to finally get asked to the dance,” the company’s CEO Tommy Fisher said. “We want to do what’s right in our hearts and for the country.”
The Washington Post reported that Trump had urged the Army Corps of Engineers to choose Fisher Sand and Gravel Co., but was told that their bid was below the required standards.
Fisher insisted during interviews on Fox News that his company would do a better job than any other firm that had already been awarded contracts.
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Trump confirmed during an April interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity, that he was seriously considering Fisher’s company after it was recommended to him by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota).
Cramer received a $10,000 campaign donation from Fisher and had invited him to last year’s State of the Union address.
“I don’t think he’s advocating for me,” Fisher said about Trump on Tuesday. “I think he’s advocating for someone who can perform and get the wall done, as high quality and as fast as possible.”
The border wall contract is the second largest Fisher has ever received, and has no experience completing a project like this. Previously, the company has built highways, done excavating work and sold heavy equipment.
The company has also been cited hundreds of times by state and local officials for violating environmental regulations.
