Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says his department is ending its controversial use of a global Defense Department supplies and services contract to buy immigration detention center services.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of the Worldwide Expeditionary Multiple Award Contract (WEXMAC) has drawn scrutiny over transparency and management concerns. The Navy awarded WEXMAC in 2021 to support “forces on missions in austere and remote locations across the globe.” But in July 2025, the Navy announced it was expanding the contract to include U.S.-based orders.
ICE worked with the Army last year to use WEXMAC to award a now-terminated $1.3 billion contract for Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas. The facility is ICE’s largest immigration detention center to date, but has been plagued by mismanagement, medical neglect and dangerous living conditions.
During a June 25 House Appropriations Committee homeland security subcommittee hearing, Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) began asking Mullin about the use of WEXMAC to procure detention services.
“We’re not using it anymore, just so you know,” Mullin cut in.
“That is fantastic news,” Escobar responded.
The Department of Homeland Security’s public affairs office did not respond to questions about plans for WEXMAC or a new contracting approach moving forward.
ICE began using WEXMAC last year as part of an expansion of immigration detention facilities fueled by $191 billion included for DHS in the 2025 reconciliation package. Congress earlier this month passed a second reconciliation bill with an additional $70 billion for ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
Lawmakers have criticized DHS’s use of WEXMAC over financial risks and a lack of transparency. Using the DoD contracting vehicle allows DHS to award deals for immigration detention centers without full and open competition, while also sidestepping some public disclosure requirements in typical DHS contracting activities.
Earlier this month, a Government Accountability Office report found the use of WEXMAC to award the Camp East Montana contract led to performance issues and wasted millions of dollars.
ICE used WEXMAC to expedite the award and construction of Camp East Montana, which “negatively affected their planning and acquisition,” GAO reported. Most of the WEXMAC contractors that submitted offers for the Camp East Montana contract did not have prior experience providing detention services, according to GAO.
“Army and ICE officials indicated that the expedited time frames directed by senior leadership dictated several decisions related to their acquisition approach, such as using a contracting vehicle not previously used for detention services,” GAO found. “They also selected a contractor that did not have prior experience providing detention services.”
The Army also used a “lowest price technically acceptable” approach to evaluating the WEXMAC proposals. ICE contracting officials told GAO that the Army didn’t consult with ICE about that decision.
The facility opened without meeting key detention standards, GAO found, because ICE didn’t inspect the facility prior to housing detainees there.
“After the facility opened, ICE reported additional problems, including gaps in medical services, the loss of a loaded firearm, and unsanitary conditions, among other issues,” the report adds. “These issues posed serious risks to the safety and security of both detained noncitizens and staff in the facility.”
GAO additionally found $18.6 million in waste between Aug. 1, 2025 and March 12, 2026, because the Army and ICE paid for meals they didn’t need.
In April, ICE terminated the contract to the original vendor, Acquisition Logistics, LLC. The agency awarded a new contract to Amentum Services, Inc. to operate Camp East Montana through September.
“At the time of our review, it was too early to assess whether this new contract would resolve performance issues at Camp East Montana or if it would include a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan,” GAO reports. “However, we have identified significant, pervasive issues with ICE and Army’s planning, acquisition, and oversight of the facility, including the acquisition approach, pricing for meals and other services, and the absence of a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan to correct key performance deficiencies.”
Meanwhile, Mullin said DHS is also “reevaluating” the purchase of 11 warehouses by ICE under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The New York Times first reported that ICE wants to get rid of seven warehouses after spending roughly $700 million to buy them.
“We are evaluating all 11 that were purchased,” Mullin said. “There are some that just, quite frankly, probably won’t work … We do have issues with detention centers, just not enough bed space. So there are some that we’re trying to make work, but there was some due diligence that maybe wasn’t actually checked off.”
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