CBP Hits Pause on Big Bend Border Wall Construction After Bipartisan Backlash
All border security construction work in Big Bend National Park is being temporarily suspended, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott announced Monday. In a video posted to X, Scott said he had landed in Texas and was on his way to visit the park to talk with local law enforcement and other stakeholders before deciding how — or whether — to move forward.
He added that CBP would continue planning and assessment work while officials review the project, and that he and a small team would spend the next couple of days evaluating the terrain and “listen to local leadership, community members and stakeholders to ensure that we secure our borders while simultaneously protecting BBNP for generations to come.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott took credit for the action.
Abbott’s opponent in November, Rep. Gina Hinojosa:
Gregory K. Bovino is a retired Border Patrol Commander-at-Large:
How we got here
The pause caps off weeks of escalating controversy over the Trump administration’s push to extend border wall infrastructure into one of the country’s most remote and scenic national parks. The project is part of a broader $46 billion border-wall buildout that Congress funded last year, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico — with CBP aiming to complete a first layer of wall by the end of next year.
In Big Bend specifically, the plan called for new patrol roads and roughly 17 miles of steel vehicle barriers cut through the park and the neighboring Big Bend Ranch State Park. Last week, federal contractors began using heavy machinery to bulldoze and excavate sections of the park to build those roads and barriers — activity first documented by CNN and other outlets, which showed construction crews clearing land in one of the darkest-sky, least-developed corners of the Lower 48.
Public pressure builds
The construction touched off protests in and around the park. Some local businesses began turning away federal contractors working on the project. Local law enforcement voiced similar frustration. Terrell County Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland, a Republican and former Border Patrol agent, said he supports border security broadly but called the construction in that specific area unnecessary — echoing a long-standing argument from residents that Big Bend’s 1,000-foot river cliffs and rugged canyons already function as a natural barrier to illegal crossings.
Brewster County Sheriff Ronny Dodson, a Democrat, warned that a real wall through the region “will devastate us,” noting the county’s economy runs on tourism rather than oil and gas. Five border-area sheriffs, including Cleveland, had already said in a March joint statement that “border security is not a one-size-fits-all proposition” and that permanent infrastructure would “permanently alter one of the most remote and ecologically significant border landscapes in the United States.”
Environmental and conservation groups amplified those concerns, warning about impacts on wildlife corridors, sensitive terrain near Mariscal Canyon, and the Rio Grande itself. Big Bend saw a comparatively tiny share of nationwide border apprehensions — about 1.3% in fiscal year 2025 — despite the sector covering nearly a quarter of the entire southwest border, a statistic critics have repeatedly cited to argue the construction is disproportionate to any security benefit.
A rare bipartisan revolt
What set the Big Bend project apart from other stretches of wall construction was the breadth of opposition it drew across party lines — an unusual coalition in an otherwise polarized border-security debate.
Democrats were the first and most consistent critics.
Texas Democrats have opposed the project for months, calling it unnecessary, environmentally damaging, and an affront to the state’s natural heritage. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett warned in a July 31 statement that blasting rock in the area could affect Mariscal Canyon and the Rio Grande, calling it “an incredible waste of both taxpayer money and an invaluable place of spectacular beauty.”
Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico was especially pointed, calling the project a “monument to corruption” that “no Texan asked for” and arguing that “God already built a wall through Big Bend — it’s called the Chisos Mountains.” Both candidates running for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, which covers the Big Bend region, have also come out against the wall effort.
Republicans, notably, didn’t stay quiet either.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas became the highest-ranking Republican official to break with the administration on the project, sending an August 7 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin urging him to consult with local officials before any further construction. Cornyn’s letter argued the barrier could disrupt the park’s natural beauty, Indigenous sites, wildlife, and tourism economy, and noted that communication between DHS and local leaders had not been as thorough as in the past. He echoed residents’ argument that the park’s terrain already provides a natural deterrent to crossings.
Notably, Cornyn’s intervention came after he lost his GOP primary earlier this year to state Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom President Trump had endorsed — a dynamic that underscored how far the frustration extended even among the administration’s usual allies. U.S. House candidate Brandon Herrera and a number of local county judges and sheriffs also pushed back publicly.
Paxton himself, notably, avoided taking a clear position on whether construction should proceed, saying only that he supports border security that accounts for the park’s “unique characteristics.”
That combination — Republican officials, Democratic candidates, conservation groups, sheriffs from both parties, and local business owners all raising objections at once — is widely seen as what forced Scott’s hand. CBP’s decision to pause “all activity” and send its commissioner personally, rather than a subordinate, is a notable concession in a project the administration has otherwise moved aggressively to build, waiving a range of regulatory reviews along other parts of the wall.
What happens next
Scott’s pause is explicitly framed as temporary — CBP says planning and assessment work will continue even as physical construction stops. Scott is expected to meet with local officials and stakeholders who oppose the project this week as part of his “on-the-ground evaluation.” Whether that visit leads to a permanent change of plans, a scaled-back design, or simply a short delay before construction resumes remains an open question, and both supporters and opponents of the project are watching closely for signs of which way it will go.
As Basecamp Terlingua owner Jeff Leach put it, the pause “reveals that standing up for our public lands does work” — but he and others made clear they see it as a first step, not a resolution.
Sources:
- CNN — “Feds halt controversial work on border security inside Big Bend National Park”
- PBS NewsHour — “Trump administration pauses border construction project in Big Bend National Park”
- Marfa Public Radio — “Trump administration pauses border construction in Big Bend National Park”
- KSAT — “Feds pausing Big Bend border construction while CBP commissioner visits the park”
- The Texas Tribune — “Paxton stays quiet on Big Bend wall as Texas Republicans revolt”
- The Hill — “Sen. Cornyn warns border wall may damage Big Bend National Park”
- The New Republic — “The Bipartisan Backlash to Trump’s Bulldozing of a Texas Landmark”
- NBC News — “Texas’ Big Bend braces for border wall in national park, worrying local Republicans and Democrats”
- Yahoo News (via original reporting) — “Bipartisan backlash grows as Trump administration begins to bulldoze Big Bend National Park for border wall”
Travis County
- Austin ISD
Williamson & Travis Counties (Cross-County Districts)
- Round Rock ISD
Most surrounding districts across the three counties either started last week or will begin tomorrow:
- Started Last Week (Aug 12–13):
- Hays County: Hays CISD (Aug 13), Dripping Springs ISD (Aug 12)
- Travis County: Eanes ISD (Aug 13), Lake Travis ISD (Aug 12), Pflugerville ISD (Aug 12), Del Valle ISD (Aug 12)
- Williamson County: Leander ISD (Aug 12)
- Starting Tomorrow (Wednesday, Aug 19):
- Hays County: San Marcos CISD
- Williamson County: Georgetown ISD
Students in the Austin Independent School District head back to class today, marking the start of a school year shadowed by consolidated campuses, hundreds of eliminated positions and a financial crisis that’s forced the district to close ten schools and slash more than $200 million from its budget.
“If you’re heading to high school, keep an eye out for these brand-new signs at all of our new transportation hubs so you know exactly where to board and catch your ride. We’ve set these up across the district to make your morning commute smoother and easier.” — Austin ISD
Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said recent academic gains should weigh heavily in any decision and despite the uncertainty, expressed “cautious optimism”, noting that the district has improved to a B rating overall—its highest rating since 2022—with dozens of campuses raising their scores.
Classes start today in the Austin Independent School District, fresh off news last week that two of its middle schools registered a fifth failing state accountability rating. That has opened the door to possible state intervention, but some folks are asking that in the whatever future decision is made for the district.
Students and families and staff are feeling all of the emotions of today’s first day of school. We’ll bring you their voices.
(Episode from August 17, 2026)
As kids head back to school, they’re also getting back to recess, PE and after-school sports all while dealing with the Texas heat.
Drivers: Slow down in school zones and be ready to stop for school buses
Bus riders: Arrive at your stop early and take five giant steps from the curb when waiting for your bus
Walkers & bikers: Use crosswalks and stay alert
Beat the heat: Pack water
Stay focused: Put your phone away
Have a safe and fun first day of school!
A detainee who escaped law enforcement custody at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center on Monday morning was later found on a CapMetro bus and taken back into custody, according to the Austin Police Department.
Austin police are looking for a suspect involved in an auto theft last week in the 9300 block of S. IH 35 SVRD SB.
APD is looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a collision last week on West Slaughter Lane resulting in injury.
In a push to cut emergency response times, the Austin City Council voted 6-0 last week to relocate its 911 call center out of the Austin Police Department and into an independent office. Funded through the city’s new $6.6 billion budget, the plan allocates over $1 million and four new positions to launch the transition, ending years of debate over emergency dispatch reform. (KUT 90.5)
ICE activity was reported Monday morning north of the city along 195 between Georgetown and Florence.
Again this morning in the North Lamar area.
A crash on I-35 northbound at FM 2001 in Buda this morning has two lanes blocked.
The Texas Department of Transportation has its eyes on your part of Interstate 35 to expand and improve traffic, however, they may face environmental hurdles.
CapMetro’s Bikeshare fleet returned to partial service this week.
A sixth positive West Nile virus mosquito pool has been detected in Hays County during the 2026 season, the Hays County Development Services Department (HCDS) announced Monday.
A 14-acre wildfire in Burnet County is at 75% containment this morning.
Texas A&M Forest Services reports three other wildfires burning in the state.
WEATHER
MONDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
A late-June U.S. Supreme Court ruling effectively allows the Trump administration to revoke Temporary Protected Status from any nationality. That puts more than 100,000 TPS recipients in Texas at risk of being expelled from the country. (Texas Standard)
President Donald Trump will be in Texas next week, setting up what would be just his second visit to the Lone Star State since he returned to the White House.
A disturbance call in Bexar County led to the arrest of a man wanted on 19 outstanding warrants issued out of Webb County.
A major human trafficking enforcement effort in North Texas has resulted in 56 arrests, as authorities stepped up operations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Texas state lawmakers heard testimony Monday about restricting which immigrants can qualify for a non-domiciled commercial driver’s license in the state.
Texas families on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether state lawmakers can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments. (Texas Tribune)
The State Fair of Texas is lowering admission prices ahead of its 2026 season.
San Antonio voters will not get to decide whether the city contributes $489 million toward a new $1.3 billion Spurs arena. Despite Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones‘ campaign pushing to bring the funding measure to a public vote, the City Council rejected the proposal in a tight 5-6 vote on Monday, keeping it off the Nov. 3 ballot. (San Antonio Express-News)
SPORTS
MLB: After sitting idle Monday, Major League Baseball returns to Texas today as the Rangers look to build momentum in a tightly bunched AL West race down the stretch.
AL WEST STANDINGS
| Rank | Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston Astros | 63 | 62 |
| 2 | Texas Rangers | 61 | 64 |
| 3 | Seattle Mariners | 59 | 66 |
| 4 | Athletics | 49 | 76 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Angels | 49 | 76 |
Houston sits atop the division, with Texas just 2.5 games back in second place — a race that’s still very much alive as play resumes.
NHL / NBA: The Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars have reached an agreement, confirming the American Airlines Center will remain the home of both teams through at least the 2030-2031 seasons.
18 DAYS UNTIL TEXAS FOOTBALL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Texas football is back on college football’s national radar — but not quite at the top.
The Longhorns opened the 2026 season ranked No. 5 in the preseason AP Top 25, trailing the No. 4 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with Oregon claiming the top spot after receiving 14 first-place votes.
Texas comes in with no first-place votes of its own this time around, a step back from last year’s unprecedented run to the preseason No. 1 ranking. The SEC leads all conferences with nine teams in the poll, followed by the Big Ten with eight and the Big 12 with four.
Texas football coach Steve Sarkisian reacted to the Longhorns’ placement:
The Longhorns intensify competition at left guard and safety as fall camp heats up.
Can Lawrence Seymore and Derek Williams Jr. lock down starting roles, or will Dylan Sikorski, Kobe Black, and Jonah Williams shake up the depth chart?
It ain’t easy being cheesy.
A father and son team in Lipan in Hood County decided the best European style cheeses shouldn’t require a plane ticket, so they started making their own. Eagle Mountain Farmhouse Cheese uses pure raw milk to craft gouda, alpine, trappist, and tomme style cheeses right here in the Texas countryside.
