# Texas gets $7.5 billion for border security costs

> The Trump administration reimburses Texas for spending under Operation Lone Star during Biden's presidency.
- Title: Texas gets $7.5 billion for border security costs | Shortify
- Summary: The Trump administration reimburses Texas for spending under Operation Lone Star during Biden's presidency. Texas will receive $7.5 billion in federal…
- Keywords: texas, border security, operation lone star, greg abbott, trump administration, federal reimbursement, homeland security, john cornyn, august pfluger, ted cruz, immigration enforcement, news
- Source: The Texas Tribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17466347/texas-border-money-reimburse-billions
- Author: Gabby Birenbaum
- Published: 2026-09-18T19:48:19+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: texas, border security, operation lone star, greg abbott, trump administration, federal reimbursement, homeland security, john cornyn, august pfluger, ted cruz, immigration enforcement, news
## Texas wins $7.5 billion border reimbursement
The Trump administration approved a long-awaited $7.5 billion grant to reimburse Texas for border security spending during Joe Biden's presidency.

> Texas held the line when Washington would not.
## Operation Lone Star cost Texas $11 billion
Texas spent over $11 billion on border security through Operation Lone Star, funding wall construction, river buoys, fencing, and National Guard personnel.
## Congress authorized reimbursement in July 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in early July 2025, contained $13.5 billion in grant money for state and local governments to apply for border reimbursement.
## Delays frustrated Texas delegation
The Trump administration took 14 months to approve the reimbursement after Congress authorized it, frustrating Sen. John Cornyn who said getting the money felt like pulling teeth.

> pulling teeth
## Texas applied for $10 billion pot
DHS posted a notice of funding opportunity in June for $10 billion available to state governments. Texas applied and received $7.5 billion, or three-quarters of the available funds.
## Reimbursement covers apprehensions and arrests
Texas sought reimbursement for over 530,000 apprehensions of undocumented immigrants, nearly 54,000 criminal arrests, and transportation of 120,000 migrants to other states.
## Money factors into January budget planning
The $7.5 billion grant will be included in the state budget when the Texas Legislature convenes in January and in the comptroller's revenue estimate.
## Key takeaway

Texas will receive $7.5 billion in federal reimbursement for border security expenses it incurred under Operation Lone Star, though it spent over $11 billion total.