Story perspectives

Republicans Block Amendment as CBP Halts Big Bend Work

8/24/2026

Summary

Rodney Scott Halts Project

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott announced a temporary halt to road and barrier work in Big Bend.
Republicans on the Homeland Security committee blocked a Democratic amendment to stop the project.
Big Bend sector recorded only 1.3% of border apprehensions last fiscal year.
Dawn Buckingham issued a cease-and-desist letter over alleged illegal land clearing.

Summary

Trump Defends Data

President Donald Trump said rejecting data centers “makes a mistake,” citing jobs and tax revenue.
Twenty-three governors signed Trump’s pledge that data centers generate electricity, shielding households from costs.
A Gallup poll found 71% of Americans oppose data centers, exceeding nuclear plant opposition.
NRSC warned data-center opposition could anchor Sen. John Husted’s Ohio race.
Taylor Rogers said greenhouse-gas emissions hit a 30-year low under Trump, backing coal policy.

History

Historical Context

In 1994, President Bill Clinton launched Operation Gatekeeper, a $1.5 billion fence project in San Diego that sharply cut illegal crossings. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a 30 percent apprehension decline that fiscal year, while environmental groups sued over habitat damage. Today, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott’s Big Bend halt and Donald Trump’s data-center push mirror Clinton’s contested fence, pitting federal agencies against state leaders. The recurring clash suggests future legal challenges and budget battles, as Gallup polls show 71 percent public opposition to new data-center sites, shaping policy decisions.

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Rodney Scott Halts Project

CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott announced a temporary halt to road and barrier work in Big Bend.
Republicans on the Homeland Security committee blocked a Democratic amendment to stop the project.
Big Bend sector recorded only 1.3% of border apprehensions last fiscal year.
Dawn Buckingham issued a cease-and-desist letter over alleged illegal land clearing.

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