ICE wasted millions in rush to expand detention, GAO finds
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ICE has received more than $75 billion to expand operations since President Trump returned to office — and wasted millions on scaled-back and mismanaged projects, a new GAO report found.
Why it matters: In rushing to execute Trump's mass deportation agenda, the agency failed to properly develop a strategic plan, according to the Government Accountability Office report.
Driving the news: The report found that ICE invested billions in six new initiatives without conducting necessary analyses.
- The report concluded that "[i]n 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."
- For example, the agency purchased more than $2.5 billion in detention facilities and warehouses but didn't calculate how much the properties would cost to maintain after the first three years, when its current federal funding will expire without additional congressional authorization.
Catch up quick: ICE received an unprecedented amount of money to bolster operations, including $45 billion through the One Big Beautiful Bill in 2025 and more than $31 billion from the Secure America Act in June 2026.
- That additional funding helped increase ICE's daily detained population by 71% between January 2025 and July 2026.
By the numbers: ICE rushed to purchase 11 warehouses to be converted into immigration facilities, but in June 2026, ICE officials told GAO that they were going to sell seven of them.
- The reported cost of all 11 warehouses was roughly $1.07 billion. The sell-off caused ICE to lose about $7.7 million in nonrecoverable purchasing costs, such as zoning assessments.
- ICE continues to pay utilities and security costs at these locations, costing an additional $12.8 million, per August estimates.
- The agency also spent $7.1 million on unneeded meals at Fort Bliss because the vendor contract didn't allow for fluctuations in occupancy levels. At Guantanamo Bay, the Defense Department spent $2.85 million assembling tents that were never used after Homeland Security determined they "did not meet detention standards."
What they're saying: "The costs cited in the GAO report were appropriate and necessary to execute valid real property acquisition transactions and to ensure the properties are properly protected and maintained post-acquisition," a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson emailed Axios.
- "From day one, DHS has remained singularly focused on removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from the United States and is always evaluating the best methods to do so."
- "These heinous criminals, once arrested, should be removed at lightning speed, not housed on American soil at the taxpayer's expense. DHS is moving swiftly to utilize EXISTING detention space with our state and county partners."
Zoom out: In some cases, the agency bypassed its normal contracting procedures, without negotiating costs.
- At the since-shuttered, so-called Alligator Alcatraz in Florida, the bed rate was $249 per day, approximately 171% higher than ICE's median rate of $92.
What we're watching: GAO recommended ICE develop a comprehensive strategic plan, and DHS agreed.
- But ICE projected that the plan won't be completed until Aug. 31, 2027, prompting GAO to conclude that given the "potential for continued waste of taxpayer dollars, more timely completion may be warranted."
- The White House referred Axios to DHS for a request to comment. DHS did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Go deeper: ICE targets Plan B after backlash to mega-jails plan
Editor's note: This story was updated with a comment from DHS.
