Greenwater Services, a company owned by a donor to President Trump, has been awarded two no-bid contracts by the government following the president’s return to office. The first of these contracts was awarded to address issues at the Tijuana River, known for its trash accumulation. The government had engaged Greenwater Services to manage this environmental challenge without opening the contract to competitive bidding.
A year following this, the company secured another no-bid contract valued at $1.7 million. This second contract tasked them with cleaning the algae-infested Reflecting Pool. The Reflecting Pool’s algae problem required immediate attention, leading to the swift decision to award Greenwater this contract.
These contracts have brought attention due to the absence of a bidding process. The direct awarding of contracts, particularly to companies linked to political donors, often sparks discussions about transparency and fairness in government procurement practices. Such procedures are crucial to ensuring that taxpayer funds are utilized effectively and that companies are selected based on merit rather than political connections.
Debris collected by a trash boom in the Tijuana River. Image credited to Gregory Bull/AP.