U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has awarded a $1.7 billion contract for border wall construction in the Big Bend region of Texas. The award has raised questions about the scope of the Trump administration’s plans near Big Bend National Park.
The contract, listed on the federal spending database usaspending.gov, is described as “for border wall in Big Bend Texas.” A separate $4.5 million contract was awarded Thursday for environmental and resource monitoring support related to border wall construction activities in another part of the region.
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott previously stated that no border wall would be constructed inside Big Bend National Park following opposition from local residents and community groups. The agency had indicated it would instead focus on improving roads and deploying surveillance technology in portions of the area rather than installing physical barriers through the park itself.
An online CBP “Smart Wall” map describes plans for roads and virtual surveillance systems in the “Big Bend 4” region, which appears connected to the newly awarded contract. The map was temporarily removed in late April before returning online with revisions in mid-May. The current version states that no wall construction is planned around national or state park areas.
CBP has not immediately responded to requests for clarification about whether the contract includes physical wall construction near protected park land. Local residents and environmental groups have expressed confusion over changing descriptions and limited public communication regarding the administration’s intentions in the region.
Terlingua business owner Lico Miller described the situation as “a roller coaster” of uncertainty. Environmental groups have also raised concerns about potential impacts from new roads or infrastructure on wildlife and remote desert terrain.
The Trump administration issued waivers allowing environmental protections to be bypassed in preparation for border barrier construction in the Big Bend sector. Federal data indicates that this sector accounts for approximately 1.3% of over 237,000 border apprehensions recorded during fiscal year 2025.
Advocacy groups filed a lawsuit in April challenging earlier environmental waivers tied to the project, arguing congressional approval was required before portions of protections could be suspended. On Friday, Homeland Security and CBP jointly announced the Border Patrol’s twelfth consecutive month of zero releases at the border, continuing a trend of historically low illegal crossings during the Trump administration.
