Trump Criticized as 'No-Bid President' for Abandoning Competitive Contracting
The New Republic article contrasts Donald Trump's past advocacy for competitive bidding as a real estate developer with his administration's widespread use of no-bid contracts. It notes Trump's 2011 book praised competitive bidding for sharpening contractor performance, but his business history included ignoring invoices and facing at least 60 contractor lawsuits. The article argues that competitive bidding is crucial for government contracting to prevent moral hazard, with 97% of federal contracts typically awarded through open bids. It then lists several no-bid contracts under Trump: $1.7 million and $14.7 million Interior Department contracts for the National Mall's Reflecting Pool, a $1.6 billion Customs and Border Protection contract for border wall construction in New Mexico, and a $4.2 million-per-month ICE contract to CoreCivic for immigrant detention in Kansas, later expanded to $60 million annually. The piece concludes that Trump lacks the patience and honesty for competitive bidding, labeling him 'America's No-Bid President.'
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