Texas receives $7.5 billion DHS reimbursement for Operation Lone Star border costs

Right · 2Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, said on Friday 2 October 2026 that Texas had received $7.5 billion from the Department of Homeland Security to reimburse state spending on border security. 1 2 Right · 2The money covers costs Texas fronted for Operation Lone Star, which Abbott launched in March 2021 under the Biden administration. The Washington Examiner said the federal reimbursement was announced in September, and that Abbott received a large ceremonial check at the governor's mansion during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. 1 2 Right · 2The funding comes from a state border security reimbursement fund created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Congress approved under President Donald Trump. Just the News, carrying a Center Square report, said the law includes $11 billion for states through DHS grants and $3.5 billion through Department of Justice grants, and that Texas received the largest share of the DHS money. 1 2

Right · 2Abbott called the payment "a great first start" and said Texas is not finished until it gets back every dollar it can. The Washington Examiner reported that he said Texas is awaiting a further $3 billion from the Department of Justice, which would bring the total to $10 billion, and that he plans to meet DOJ officials. The Center Square said Texas is applying for DOJ grant money and that the amount it will receive remains to be seen. 1 2 Right · 2The Washington Examiner reported Abbott as saying Texas received 75% of the money allotted in the DHS fund. The Center Square's figures ($7.5 billion of $11 billion) imply a smaller share, about 68%, and the articles do not reconcile the two. 1 2 Right · 2Abbott used the event to criticise President Joe Biden's border policies, saying they allowed thousands of unvetted people to enter and citing the "reckless endangerment" this posed. According to the governor's office, illegal crossings fell 80% during the operation. 1 2

Right · 1The Center Square said the operation's officers apprehended 538,141 people and deterred 157,112 illegal entries from March 2021 through February 2026, citing operation data. It said the Texas Legislature allocated more than $11.6 billion to border security during the Biden administration, and that the first reimbursement came 20 months after Abbott asked Congress to repay more than $11.1 billion. 2 Right · 1Abbott thanked Texas Republicans in Congress. Sen. John Cornyn said Texas taxpayers should not have had to cover the costs of the Biden administration's border crisis, and he urged the Justice Department to keep disbursing the remaining funds. Rep. August Pfluger also led the effort. 2 Right · 1The Washington Examiner noted the payment comes weeks before the midterm elections. It cited a Fox News poll released Thursday showing 52% of Texans approve of Abbott's work as governor, the same share who favour him over Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa, with a 3% margin of error. 1