DHS Bypasses Rules to Speed Up Texas Border Barriers and Roads
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Homeland Security is speeding up the building of barriers and roads along the Texas border to stop illegal crossings and keep the country safe. To do this fast, they’re temporarily skipping some usual rules and laws starting February 17, 2026. This move helps protect the nation without delays, but it mainly affects border areas and related construction projects.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Immediate Border Construction in Big Bend
The Department of Homeland Security will immediately build additional physical barriers and roads in a defined segment of the Big Bend Sector on the Texas border. The project area starts at approximately GPS 31.037623, -105.579877 and extends to approximately GPS 29.325866, -104.046466, and work is authorized to proceed effective February 17, 2026 to prevent unlawful entries and smuggling.
Waiver of Environmental and Historic Laws
To speed the Big Bend construction, the Secretary waives, for the project area, a long list of federal and related legal requirements including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Clean Air Act, and many other named environmental, cultural‑resource, and procedural statutes. The waiver applies to construction activities in the project area and took effect on February 17, 2026.
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