Trump Admin Pauses Border Project in Big Bend National Park

The Trump administration announced Monday that it is temporarily pausing construction of a contentious border security project in Texas’ Big Bend National Park while the head of Customs and Border Protection conducts an on-the-ground evaluation of the site. The pause comes amid fierce bipartisan opposition from environmental groups, local officials, and residents who argue the project is marring one of America’s most pristine natural landscapes.

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott announced the halt on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “CBP is pausing all construction activity in Big Bend National Park while I visit and conduct a personal, on-the-ground evaluation.” Scott said he would “listen to local leadership, community members and stakeholders” over the next couple of days to address what he called “real” national security threats while protecting the park, according to AP News.

A Rare Concession on a Signature Promise

The suspension marks a rare concession from the administration on a signature promise that it has raced to complete. Congress provided the Trump administration with $46 billion last summer to build a wall from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, and federal officials have been waiving numerous environmental regulations to expedite construction. Scott has said he expects the first layer of the wall to be built by the end of next year.

The project through the national park involves building an access road, vehicle barriers, lights, and surveillance technology including buried fiber optic cables — not the 30-foot bollard wall that CBP had initially planned. The agency backed off those plans earlier this year after widespread outcry, but continued pursuing other border protection measures. The $1.7 billion contract was awarded to Southwest Valley Constructors of New Mexico in May 2026, and the project includes about 200 miles of new patrol roads and four sections of non-contiguous vehicle barriers totaling 17 miles, according to the CBP environmental assessment.

The planned patrol road route is slated to cross Mariscal Mountain, which rises 1,700 feet above the Rio Grande. The park’s southern boundary forms about 118 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Bulldozers Spark Outrage

Last week, bulldozers were seen clearing land at the park, sparking even more concern and raising questions from Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. The Department of Homeland Security initially said on X that the bulldozers were related to “survey and design work,” but The Guardian reported that footage showed heavy machinery plowing through the park’s famed Santa Elena Canyon area.

Cornyn, who lost the Republican primary to the state’s attorney general, wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin over construction concerns. “My constituents believe that the 1,000-foot riverbank cliffs and remote Big Bend terrain offers its own source of deterrence for any illegal migrants crossing into the United States,” Cornyn wrote, according to NBC DFW.

Border crossings in the Big Bend area have historically been lower than other regions and have dropped even further over the past two years. CBP’s Big Bend sector accounted for just 1.3% of apprehensions along the southern border in fiscal year 2025.

Bipartisan Opposition Mounts

The project has drawn opposition from Democratic and Republican sheriffs in the region, former national park officials, local residents who rely on the parks for their livelihood, and some Texas elected officials. Critics say it will scar the rugged landscape that attracts tourists who raft down the Rio Grande and take advantage of some of the clearest night skies in the U.S.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin over the weekend and suggested the construction pause was a result of their talk. Abbott said the secretary committed to the governor that there would be no wall or barriers built in the park, but made no mention of the road building that has concerned local residents, as USA Today reported.

Bob Krumenaker, former superintendent of Big Bend National Park and chair of Keep Big Bend Wild, said he was “wary but optimistic” after news of the pause. “They are paying attention to all of the objections that have been raised across the political spectrum,” he said.

Activists Demand Permanent Halt

Activists who have been rallying opposition to the administration’s plans said they were encouraged by the pause but would be watching closely to see if CBP makes any significant changes or simply returns to its previous plans. Laiken Jordahl of the Center for Biological Diversity called the announcement “welcome news” but warned that construction could resume “at any moment.”

“This temporary pause proves how much non-partisan public pressure is mounting in West Texas and across America to stop the irreversible destruction unfolding in this crown jewel national park,” Jordahl said, as reported by the Texas Tribune. “We’re not resting until these contracts are canceled, these workers are sent packing, the waivers are rescinded and every wall plan for the greater Big Bend region is scrapped for good.”

Various groups have launched legal efforts to force CBP out of the park. A tribal nonprofit and an outdoor recreation company recently asked a federal judge to block border wall-related construction in the park, arguing the work threatens archaeological sites and sacred grounds, according to the Texas Tribune.

What’s Next

Scott is expected to meet with sheriffs from the region in Alpine on Tuesday. The pause is temporary, and it remains unclear whether CBP will significantly modify its plans or resume construction. Critics are demanding that the agency remove heavy equipment from the park, outline a clear plan going forward, and repair damage already done.

As NPR/KWBU reported, river guide Billy Miller captured the sentiment of many opponents: “A lot of people might think, ‘Well, we saved it from the 30-foot wall, we won the battle.’ The battle is just now beginning.”