Big Bend border construction pause runs through mid-September
The federal government agreed in court on Friday to extend a pause on border-related construction in Big Bend National Park until mid-September, according to the Associated Press. The extension was welcomed by groups challenging the contentious project in the area. U.S. Customs and Border Protection had already paused activity in the park after Commissioner Rodney Scott visited the area last week to consult with local officials. Scott's visit came after bulldozers began plowing through parts of the park in far south Texas, drawing widespread outrage. The Department of Homeland Security said at the time that the bulldozers were not launching into full construction but were part of initial design and survey work. An attorney for the government emphasized in court on Friday that no final plans have been decided for what will be built in the park.