In a significant development for border security funding, the Trump administration has allocated $7.5 billion to Texas as reimbursement for expenses incurred during President Joe Biden’s term. This decision was announced by Governor Greg Abbott following approval by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Administration.
The release of these funds comes more than a year after Congress authorized border reimbursements through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a key initiative for Texas Republicans, including Governor Abbott. The governor had initially sought federal reimbursement for border security costs during the opening week of Donald Trump’s presidency.
“I spoke with Secretary Markwayne Mullin yesterday, who confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security will be sending Texas $7.5 billion as part of the federal funding to reimburse Texas,” Abbott stated. “Texas held the line when Washington would not. Texas taxpayers spent billions to stop illegal crossings, catch criminals, and seize deadly drugs. This reimbursement is a victory for those taxpayers. I thank President Trump and Secretary Mullin for this action.”
Texas has invested over $11 billion in border security through Operation Lone Star, which covers expenses related to border wall construction, river buoy installation, fencing, and the deployment of Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety personnel in the area. Abbott previously indicated in January 2025 that the state sought full reimbursement for these expenditures.
As discussions about a major tax-and-spending bill unfolded in early 2025, Senator John Cornyn and Representative August Pfluger spearheaded efforts to create a border reimbursement fund. The resulting legislation, enacted in July 2025, allocated $13.5 billion in grant funding for state and local governments.
The delay in releasing these funds has been a source of frustration among Texas lawmakers, including Cornyn, who expressed in August that the process felt like “pulling teeth.” In November, Cornyn, Pfluger, and Senator Ted Cruz sent a letter to leaders at the DHS and the Department of Justice urging prompt action to provide Texas with the full $11.1 billion it had already spent.
“Texas’s actions through Operation Lone Star were absolutely vital to ensuring the safety and security of Americans across our great country,” the lawmakers asserted. “However, our state should not have had to bear alone the costs of securing the border when former President Biden intentionally failed to do so.”
In June, the DHS announced a notice for a funding opportunity that included a $10 billion allocation for state governments, which Texas subsequently applied for. The application deadline was extended, further delaying the disbursement of funds. Ultimately, Texas is set to receive $7.5 billion, accounting for three-quarters of the total funding available. Cornyn noted that Abbott had negotiated this amount with Mullin.
The governor’s application detailed various costs associated with border security projects, including the installation of wire barriers in Eagle Pass, the manpower for over 530,000 apprehensions of undocumented immigrants, and the transportation of nearly 120,000 migrants processed and released by federal authorities. The total amount Texas sought reimbursement for was approximately $10 billion, with activities under Operation Lone Star beginning in 2021 and extending into 2026.
A separate fund administered by the Department of Justice is also providing $3.5 billion in grants for immigration-related law enforcement efforts, which includes reimbursement for expenditures during Biden’s presidency. Grants have already begun to be awarded, including to Kendall County.
The $7.5 billion grant will play a crucial role in the budget considerations for Texas lawmakers when the legislature convenes in January. The state’s revenue estimates, typically released in January, can now incorporate this newly awarded funding.
