Feds halt controversial work on border security inside Big Bend National Park

By Ashley Killough, Ed Lavandera, CNN

(CNN) — All construction work for border security in Big Bend National Park is being temporarily suspended, Rodney Scott, commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, announced Monday.

Scott said in a video posted to X that he had landed in Texas and was on his way to visit the park and talk to local law enforcement and other stakeholders.

“Last night I put a pause on all activity in that park as far as construction goes till I can get down there and do a personal evaluation,” he said in the video.

Scott’s action came after reporting by CNN and others about the government’s use of heavy machinery this past week to bulldoze and excavate parts of the national park to build patrol roads and vehicle barriers.

The activity is part of CBP’s broader project to install sweeping border security infrastructure along the Rio Grande in this remote region of Texas. The Big Bend Sector stretches along a quarter of the U.S.-Mexico border, but sees only about 1% of border apprehensions, due to the area’s rugged terrain.

CBP plans for the broader Big Bend region currently include building 175 miles of 30-foot steel bollard wall along the Rio Grande in areas west of the national park. The agency does not plan to build a wall in the national park or state park, but has begun clearing land for 200 miles of patrol roads and 17 miles of vehicle barriers in specific locations, the agency said last week. The Big Bend project also includes plans to build 165 miles of vehicle barriers in areas east of the national park.

CNN previously reported Scott would be meeting with local authorities who oppose CBP’s border project on Tuesday.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.