Security
House Bill Has $46.5B in New Border Wall Project Construction
More funding for CPB, other border agencies earmarked, too, but no purchase of Texas state border wall yet
The House Homeland Security Committee is looking to spend $46.5 billion on new border wall projects throughout the Southwest in the current budget reconciliation process.
Photo courtesy of iStock
The House Committee on Homeland Security forwarded budget recommendations April 27 that, if approved by Congress, could fund 700 additional miles of border wall, 900 miles of river barriers and 630 miles of secondary walls as part of a budget reconciliation bill President Donald Trump has requested Congress pass by Memorial Day.
The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is asking for $69 billion in taxpayer funds for security needs, the lion's share of which is $46.5 billion to pay for the hundreds of miles of new steel-bollard-and-concrete-base wall, per the specifications of DHS' current wall construction program. The money is expected to fund wall construction across the entire Southwest border for at least the next three years under indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract vehicles that could be renewed in 2028.
The rest of the money is expected to cover $5 billion for Customs and Border Protection facilities; $4.1 billion for 8,000 additional CBP agents, officers and support staff; $2 billion for CBP workforce annual retention bonuses and signing incentives; $1.07 billion for non-intrusive inspection technology; $2.7 billion for unspecified border surveillance technology; $500 million for unmanned aircraft systems; and $450 million for Operation Stonegarden, a federal grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration that provides funding for cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to improve border security.
"We need the resources to continue doing what President Trump has promised the American people,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
Current border wall projects are being built near San Diego and in Hidalgo County, Texas, using funds appropriated during the Biden administration. Contractors that bid for the new work could be constructing wall sections in Arizona and New Mexico where CBP has previously identified areas it wants to erect new wall sections or other enforcement measures. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) also previously used river barriers, such as those requested in the security passage in the Rio Grande separating the U.S. from Mexico. The Biden administration ordered the floating buoys—which essentially act as nets stopping anyone from crossing the river—removed in December 2023.
The request, however, does not include any money for purchasing existing state border wall that Abbott and other Texas officials said they were interested in selling to the federal government in the early days of the second Trump administration.
While discussions between the state and the Trump administration are ongoing, the Homeland Security Committee did not earmark any funds to purchase the $11.5-billion Texas wall.
"This is part of the ongoing discussions with members of Congress to reimburse Texas for the more than $11 billion spent to secure the border and protect Texans and Americans. Governor Abbott recently spoke with members of the Texas congressional delegation about a reimbursement and continues working with Congress on the details,” Andrew Mahaleris, Gov. Abbott's press secretary, said in early February.
