Trump Administration Waives Environmental Laws for Big Bend Border Barriers

The Donald Trump administration has waived dozens of federal environmental and preservation laws to expedite border security construction in the Big Bend region of West Texas. On June 9, 2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a regulatory waiver covering over 100 miles of the border, including Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The move bypasses the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act to facilitate the Big Bend 4 project.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to install approximately 17 miles of vehicle barriers consisting of four-foot metal posts and cross beams, alongside surveillance technology and patrol road upgrades. While CBP officials previously indicated that 30-foot steel walls would not be built inside the parks, reports indicate construction of two high-wall segments in the broader region is scheduled for this summer. The project is supported by a $1.7 billion construction contract and a $2.6 billion design contract.

On June 10, the GOP-controlled House Appropriations Committee rejected a proposal by Representative Henry Cuellar to prohibit federal funds for walls in the parks, defeating the measure 34-26 along party lines. Environmental advocates, including the Center for Biological Diversity, condemned the waivers as a death warrant for the region's wildlife habitats and have vowed to challenge the decision in court.