Calling it a “breach of national security,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville and a dozen other Republican senators are seeking answers after learning the government is spending $47 million a year to store unused border wall panels.

The senators, in a letter to Melissa Dalton, assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, asked for Defense Department internal communications on the subject, a list of entities the department is paying to store the panels, and an explanation of the contract process.

“The Department of Defense should not be incurring these daily charges but should be using these funds to bolster national security,” the senators wrote. “In a highly dangerous security environment for the United States, every dollar Congress authorizes for the Department of Defense should be used effectively. This failing program clearly misses that standard.”

Tuberville (R-Auburn) said the issue “undermines the safety” of Americans.

“It is a betrayal of millions of hardworking Americans in this country to deliberately use their taxpayer dollars to undermine their safety,” said Tuberville. “Since taking over, this administration has made securing our southern border its last priority, despite record numbers of deadly drugs pouring across — killing nearly 150 Americans every day.

“The DoD owes the American people an explanation for this outrageous waste of taxpayer funds and breach of national security. I will continue pushing for answers on their behalf.”

The following Senators joined Tuberville in the letter: Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.