Why Trump is tearing up a beloved national park
This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Welcome to The Logoff: Remember President Donald Trump’s first-term border wall? It’s still being built — through a pristine Texas national park. What’s happening? The Trump administration is preparing […]
On August 12, 2026, bulldozers began clearing land in Big Bend National Park, Texas for a controversial border security project. This move, announced by the Trump administration, aims to construct approximately 200 miles of patrol roads, border barriers, and electronic surveillance within the park's 118 miles of shared border with Mexico. Despite a bipartisan backlash over potential damage to the park, the administration proceeded after overriding environmental laws intended to protect the area.
The project, dubbed a "smart wall," combines traditional border walls with patrol roads and vehicle barriers, differing from the administration's original plan for a physical wall. The administration intends to build about 700 additional miles of "primary" wall along the US-Mexico border, all set to cost around $47 billion.
Big Bend National Park, often considered low-priority due to its remote location and harsh weather, is home to only about 1% of border-crossing apprehensions. The administration's decision to target this particular park remains unclear.
Written by urgent.news from Vox's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
