WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Andrew Clyde (GA-09) sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Tae Johnson requesting information and documentation regarding ICE’s no-bid contract with Endeavors. After receiving an insufficient response from a similar letter last year, this latest correspondence serves as a pressing follow up and Rep. Clyde’s latest effort to hold the Biden Administration accountable.

 

Read the letter HERE.

 

Since ICE awarded a nearly $87 million sole-source contract to Endeavors last year, Rep. Clyde has continuously blasted the deal and demanded answers from the Biden Administration on the non-competitive contract, conflict of interest surrounding the arrangement, and the related government abuse that has exploited millions of taxpayer dollars.

 

In response to recent revelations about ICE’s Endeavors contract, Rep. Clyde released the following statement:

 

“After more than a year of opportunities, ICE has failed to provide substantive explanations regarding its no-bid contract with Endeavors or the egregious conflict of interest involved with the organization and the Biden Administration. We’ve now learned that in addition to this dubious arrangement, ICE has wasted a whopping $17 million of taxpayer money on empty hotel rooms intended for illegal migrants. This latest example of incompetence underscores the dire need for proper congressional oversight and thorough investigations. Unfortunately, Democrats are just as interested in revealing the truth about ICE’s sketchy contract with Endeavors as they are in securing our southern border. But make no mistake, Republicans will get to the bottom of this government abuse, severe mismanagement, and controversial relations once and for all in order to fully hold the Biden Administration accountable.”

 

“The Department of Homeland Security’s lack of transparency during the Biden administration has been appalling, and the unanswered questions around ICE’s Endeavor’s contract is a prime example," said Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member John Katko. “I thank Representative Clyde for his oversight work on this topic, and look forward to continuing to hold the administration accountable to the American taxpayer.”

 

Background:

 

Last year, Rep. Clyde sent a letter to ICE Acting Director Tae Johnson requesting information about the details regarding ICE’s no-bid contract with Endeavors. Additionally, he pressed Johnson on the conflict of interest involved in the deal. Endeavors’ Senior Director for Migrant Services & Federal Affairs, Andrew Lorenzen-Strait, previously worked for President Biden’s campaign, the Biden Administration’s transition team, and formerly served in the Obama Administration.

 

In addition, Rep. Clyde joined a letter, spearheaded by both House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY) and House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member John Katko (R-NY), to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra seeking records pertaining to HHS’ non-competitive contract, worth a potential award amount of $529.5 million, to Endeavors for the purpose of assisting the management of the surge of illegal migrants at the southern border. 

 

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General issued a report revealing ICE officials sidestepped the regular competitive process in order to award an $87 million contract to Endeavors and wasted at least $17 million of taxpayer money on mostly unused hotel rooms for illegal migrants. In response, Rep. Clyde joined his Republican colleagues on the House Oversight and Reform Committee in sending a letter to ICE Acting Director Johnson demanding information about the decision to forgo the competitive process by granting Endeavors a contract and the subsequent mismanagement of taxpayer dollars.