The Trump administration has temporarily paused construction of a border project within Texas' Big Bend National Park, according to a statement Monday. The head of Customs and Border Protection, Rodney Scott, is scheduled to visit the park to conduct a personal, on-the-ground evaluation of the project.
This pause comes amid significant bipartisan opposition, with critics arguing the construction is damaging the park's environment. They contend that the region's rugged terrain already acts as a deterrent to illegal border crossings, which have historically been low in the area and have further decreased in recent years.
"CBP is pausing all construction activity in Big Bend National Park while I visit and conduct a personal, on-the-ground evaluation," Scott said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He stated his intention to "listen to local leadership, community members and stakeholders" to address national security concerns while also protecting the park.
Customs and Border Protection has not provided details on the duration of the pause or the specific individuals Scott will meet with during his visit.
The temporary suspension reflects the intensity of the opposition to the border project. Congress allocated $46 billion last summer for the administration to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the administration has been accelerating construction by waiving numerous regulations.
While CBP previously abandoned plans for a 30-foot-tall bollard wall through the park earlier this year, other border protection measures, including a new road, lighting, vehicle barriers, and technology such as buried fiber optic cables, were still moving forward. This has drawn criticism from local officials, including sheriffs, former park officials, residents, and some Texas elected officials.
Critics argue that these measures will mar the landscape, which attracts tourists for activities like rafting the Rio Grande River and stargazing. Concerns have also been raised about potential damage to archeological sites and Native American burial grounds from the construction of the new road.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott stated that he spoke with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin over the weekend and suggested their conversation contributed to the pause. Abbott said Mullin committed that no wall or barriers would be built in the park, though the governor did not mention road construction.
Last week, the presence of bulldozers clearing land in the park sparked further concern and questions from some Texas Republican senators. At the time, the Department of Homeland Security stated on X that the activity was related to "survey and design work."
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, wrote to Secretary Mullin expressing constituent concerns that the natural barriers of the park's cliffs and remote terrain already serve as a significant deterrent to large-scale illegal crossings.
Activists opposing the administration's border plans expressed encouragement over the pause but indicated they would closely monitor developments to ensure significant changes are made. Bob Krumenaker, former superintendent of Big Bend National Park and chair of the organization "Keep Big Bend Wild," called himself "wary but optimistic," noting that objections from across the political spectrum appear to be gaining attention. However, he cautioned that CBP might not abandon all its plans and emphasized the need for transparency regarding future steps and repairs for any damage already caused.
The Center for Biological Diversity, which sued Homeland Security over regulatory waivers for construction in the region, welcomed the news but warned that construction could resume at any time. Laiken Jordahl from the center stated, "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."