Trump’s Tax Bill to Reimburse Texas Billions for Border Security Fight

President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax bill includes a provision to reimburse Texas billions for its border security efforts during the Biden administration. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, a key architect of the measure, championed the $12 billion grant program to offset costs states incurred tackling illegal immigration. Texas, hit hardest by the border crisis, spent over $11 billion, including $5.87 billion on personnel and $4.75 billion on barriers and a state-built border wall.

McCaul, after months of strategic negotiations with Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Mike Johnson, secured the provision in a last-minute manager’s amendment. "Texas bore the brunt of a federal failure," McCaul told WTFNewsRoom, emphasizing the state’s role in filling the void left by Biden’s policies. The bill, now headed to the Senate, leverages the budget reconciliation process, needing only 51 votes to pass, sidelining Democratic opposition.

Sen. John Cornyn is set to push the measure forward, with McCaul expressing confidence in its survival after discussions with Trump’s team. Gov. Abbott praised the allocation, noting Texas’s pride in addressing a national issue. House Speaker Johnson lauded McCaul’s efforts, stating that states like Texas mitigated a worse crisis caused by Biden’s "open border" policies.

While not guaranteed, the reimbursement brings Texas closer to recouping its massive investment in border security, a testament to its resolve against federal inaction.