CBP Pauses Big Bend Border Construction Amid Bipartisan Outcry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott ordered a temporary pause on all construction activity in Big Bend National Park starting August 17, 2026. The suspension follows weeks of bipartisan criticism, lawsuits from tribal and environmental groups, and reports of heavy machinery damaging sensitive habitats near Santa Elena Canyon. Scott is visiting the region to conduct an on-the-ground evaluation and meet with local stakeholders to discuss alternative security options, such as drones and infrared cameras.

While the Trump administration previously ruled out a 30-foot steel bollard wall inside the park, the project still includes patrol roads and vehicle barriers. Texas Governor Greg Abbott claimed the pause resulted from his discussions with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, asserting a commitment that no walls or fences would be built in the park. However, environmental groups and local officials remain wary, citing the region's rugged terrain as a natural deterrent that makes physical barriers unnecessary.

The conflict has expanded beyond the national park. Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham issued a cease-and-desist order after CBP contractors illegally cleared over a mile of state land. Meanwhile, protesters rallied at a Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in Austin to protect state parks from similar infrastructure. A federal judge in San Antonio has scheduled a hearing for August 28 to determine if a temporary restraining order should permanently halt the project, with CBP agreeing to pause work inside the park until that date.