GAO Watchdog Report Finds ICE Wasted Tens of Millions of Dollars in Rushed Detention Expansion

The Government Accountability Office released a report September 25, 2026 concluding that 'in the absence of a comprehensive strategic plan to guide detention expansion, ICE has wasted funds on unsuccessful detention initiatives and lacks important information about the long-term affordability of its investments.' ICE received an unprecedented $45 billion through the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act plus more than $31 billion from the June 2026 Secure America Act, helping drive a 71% increase in the daily detained population between January 2025 and July 2026. GAO documented that ICE rushed to purchase 11 warehouses for roughly $1.07 billion to convert into detention facilities, paying an 11–13% premium for the rushed timeline, only to announce in June 2026 that seven would be sold — costing about $7.7 million in non-recoverable purchasing costs (zoning assessments, etc.) plus an additional $12.8 million in ongoing utilities and security at the unused sites through August. The Defense Department separately spent $2.85 million erecting tents at Guantánamo Bay that were never used after DHS determined they 'did not meet detention standards,' and ICE spent $7.1 million on unneeded meals at a Fort Bliss, Texas facility because its vendor contract could not flex with occupancy swings. GAO Director Heather MacLeod said 'the lack of planning has really led to stops and starts which have ultimately resulted in waste,' and the report warned ICE 'will likely continue to make uninformed decisions and risk further inefficiency and wasted resources' without a strategic plan.