INTERNACIONAL
McCaul touts money in Trump tax bill to pay Texas back for fighting Biden border policies
There’s a provision tucked into President Donald Trump’s broadly ranging «big, beautiful bill» that could see Texas get billions of dollars in funds that it spent on the state’s border security under the Biden administration.
The legislation earmarked $12 billion for a grant program allowing states to be reimbursed for costs they incurred trying to stem the flow of illegal immigration during the Democratic administration.
The measure was added to the bill hours before the final vote – but Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the former chairman of the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees, told Fox News Digital it was a product of months of negotiation.
«Early on, [Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., and I were discussing reconciliation going through the Homeland Security Committee. And, you know, there was about $70 billion for the border,» McCaul said. «Texas bore the brunt of the federal mission the last four years and deserves to be reimbursed. And so he agreed, had a conversation with Governor Abbott, and he agreed.»
HOUSE GOP TARGETS ANOTHER DEM OFFICIAL ACCUSED OF BLOCKING ICE AMID DELANEY HALL FALLOUT
Rep. Michael McCaul spoke with Fox News Digital about the weeks of talks it took to secure billions for states that incurred border-related costs during the Biden administration. (Getty Images)
While the text does not name Texas specifically, Fox News Digital was told that the measure’s inclusion was primarily sought by the Lone Star state’s congressional delegation.
The state of Texas, Fox News Digital was told, had incurred just over $11 billion in costs from Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to keep the border in his state secure.
«The fact of the matter is, when you look at the costs that were borne, Texas had the lion’s share of [the burden] carrying out the federal mission when the Biden administration completely failed to deliver on border security,» McCaul said. «My state built the border wall and built detention facilities. We bore a lot of costs.»
Operation Lone Star alone cost Texas $11.1 billion, according to The Texas Tribune.
Rather than add it to the initial text of the bill, McCaul said, leaders opted to include it in a «managers amendment» that was added on Wednesday night along with several other issues that lawmakers needed more time to negotiate.
«The legislative process, it’s something I’ve gotten to know over my 20 years and how to get things done up here. And I thought, you know, the way we worked it was strategically very smart,» McCaul said. «It’s going to the Senate now. And Senator Cornyn is going to take it up, be the champion in the Senate.»
The Texas Republican first met with Abbott and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on the matter in early February, Fox News Digital was told.
McCaul said Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger also played a key role (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
McCaul said he also worked closely on the push with Republican Study Committee Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, who told Fox News Digital that «no state» carried more financial burden from the border crisis than Texas.
«Texas spent $11.1 billion on border security, including $5.87 billion on personnel costs and $4.75 billion on border wall and barriers. When the federal government failed to secure our border and protect our communities, Texans stepped up,» Pfluger said.
Johnson, for his part, thanked McCaul for his efforts in a public written statement.
«Thanks to Rep. McCaul, states that stepped up to protect Americans in the face of Biden’s border catastrophe will be reimbursed for doing the work the Biden Administration refused to do,» the speaker said. «Had those patriotic governors not taken action and used the resources of their state, the devastation from Biden’s wide-open border would have been significantly worse.»
MEET THE TRUMP-PICKED LAWMAKERS GIVING SPEAKER JOHNSON A FULL HOUSE GOP CONFERENCE
Green said of the need for the measure, «In the absence of help from the Biden-Harris administration, states were forced to take extraordinary measures to mitigate the crisis and protect their communities by building barrier systems and increasing law enforcement activity.»
And while McCaul and his colleagues’ efforts in the House do not guarantee that Texas will ultimately see those funds, it puts them one step closer to success.
The measure is one aspect in a multi-trillion-dollar bill that Republicans are working to pass via the budget reconciliation process.
By lowering the Senate’s threshold for passage from 60 votes to 51, reconciliation enables the party in power to pass certain fiscal legislation while completely sidelining the minority – in this case, Democrats.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star cost Texas over $11 billion (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)
Trump directed Republicans to use reconciliation to advance his policies on taxes, immigration, energy, defense, and the national debt.
The Senate and House must pass identical versions of the bill before it gets to Trump’s desk.
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McCaul told Fox News Digital that he was confident the measure would stay in the Senate bill after conversations with the Trump administration on the matter.
«I anticipate it will go forward,» McCaul said. «I’m, just proud that we were able to get this done. I’m very proud of what my state did to stop the flow of illegals and dangerous actors coming into the country.»
When reached for comment, Abbott told Fox News Digital, «This is a national issue that Texas was proud to address, and we are grateful for the allocation that reduces the financial burden that Texas incurred.»
House Of Representatives,Border security,Republicans
The White House on Thursday confirmed that Israel agreed to a ceasefire proposal submitted by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump in a move to return the 58 hostages who have been held in Gaza for more than 600 days.
«Israel signed off on this proposal before it was sent to Hamas,» White House press secretary Karoline Levitt told reporters. «I can also confirm that those discussions are continuing, and we hope that a ceasefire in Gaza will take place so we can return all of the hostages home.»
HAMAS FACES ‘LEGITIMACY CRISIS’ AS DESPERATE GAZANS FLOCK TO US-BACKED AID CENTERS
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters at the White House on May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Levitt would not comment further on the details of the proposal, and Hamas does not yet appear to have agreed to the proposal.
State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Thursday there is a sense of «important optimism» but confirmed the Hamas position is «unknown at this point.»
A statement released on Wednesday by the terrorist organization said, «The latest of these efforts was reaching an agreement with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on a general framework, which achieves a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, the flow of humanitarian aid, and the formation of a professional committee to manage the affairs of Gaza upon the announcement of the agreement.»
Hamas fighters stand in formation as Palestinians gather on a street to watch the handover of three Israeli hostages to a Red Cross team in Deir el-Balah, Gaza Strip, on Feb. 8, 2025. (Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
TRUMP CONFIRMS HE TOLD NETANYAHU TO BACK OFF IRAN STRIKES AMID NUCLEAR TALKS
Hamas also claimed the most recent proposal it had reviewed included the release of 10 Israeli hostages as well as «a number of bodies» in exchange for an unconfirmed number of Palestinian prisoners.
It is unclear if these details were also included in the proposal agreed to by Israel.
Following the release of Edan Alexander, the final American-Israeli hostage still alive in Hamas captivity this month, 58 hostages remain.
American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, left, was released on May 12, 2025. The bodies of four other Americans are still being held in Gaza: Itay Chen, second left, Judy and Gadi Weinstein and Omer Neutra. (Fox News)
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An estimated 24 of the hostages are assessed to be alive, though Israeli reporting has suggested this number could be less.
The bodies of four American Israelis taken on Oct. 7, 2023, continue to be held captive, including Itay Chen, Omer Neutra, Gadi Haggai and Judi Weinstein Haggai.
Yonat Frilling contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Final de la Champions League: París se blinda ante el temor a incidentes como los de Liverpool
El miedo a un escenario como el de Liverpool
Macron podría recibir al PSG el domingo
Hinchas posan en Munich junto a una replica de la copa de la Champions League. Foto: EFEEl hombre arrestado en Liverpool
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content.
Here’s what’s happening…
–Elon Musk criticism of Trump tax bill frustrates some Republicans: ‘No place in Congress’
-Rubio spearheads massive State Department reorganization set to eliminate, merge more than 300 offices
-Federal judge says attempted deportation of anti-Israel ringleader Mahmoud Khalil may be unconstitutional
Musk Leaves DOGE
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk bid farewell to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a Wednesday night X post, ending his tenure as the face of the agency as it shifts to a new phase in President Donald Trump‘s second term.
«As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,» Musk said on X. «The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.»
Musk has been the public face of DOGE since Trump signed an executive order establishing the office on Jan. 20. DOGE has since ripped through federal government agencies in a quest to identify and end government overspending, corruption and fraud…READ MORE
White House
BLUE AMBITIONS: 21 Democrats who may try to succeed Trump in the 2028 presidential election
DEEP CUTS: Trump’s drastic NSC cuts spark debate: Does fighting the ‘Deep State’ put national security at risk?
JUDICIAL PUSHBACK: Federal judge orders Trump admin to resume migrant ‘parole’ applications
A side-by-side split image of protesters, seen demonstrating against Trump’s immigration crackdown and other policies, next to a photo of U.S. President Donald Trump signing an executive order at the White House. Photos via Getty Images. (Getty Images)
COURT WIN: Federal judge sides against copyright leader who claimed Trump was wrong to fire her
‘MOMENT MEANS A LOT’: Rapper thanks Trump for pardon on gun conviction
SAVED BY THE PEN: Trump commutes sentence of major political donor in latest round of clemency
World Stage
‘INFLECTION POINT’: Hamas faces ‘legitimacy crisis’ as desperate Gazans flock to US-backed aid centers
‘PATH’ FOR PEACE: Franklin Graham meets with Zelenskyy in Berlin, offers prayer amid escalating Russia-Ukraine war
Franklin Graham and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy share a conversation during a meeting in Berlin, as others observe and a camera records the moment. (Courtesy Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
Capitol Hill
FIGHTING BACK: Former Navy Seal Jared Hudson mounts Senate bid to ‘crush the woke agenda’ as Tuberville seeks governorship
UPPER BRACKET BOOST: Here are the changes to the SALT tax deduction in the ‘big, beautiful bill’
DOCTOR DEMOCRAT: Lindsey Graham draws Democratic Senate challenger who previously lost congressional race
FUNDING FEUD: GOP rails against ‘blatantly false’ Dem claims about Medicaid reform in Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’
Rep. Erin Houchin (right) is speaking out against Democrats’ rhetoric about Medicaid cuts. (Getty Images)
‘POLITICAL SCANDAL’: GOP push for new House committee to probe Biden decline ‘cover-up’ gains steam
CLOCK’S TICKING: 85-year-old longtime House Democrat facing primary challenger who’s making age the issue
Across America
RED TAPE CUT: Supreme Court limits judges’ authority to block infrastructure projects over environmental concerns
SPLASH SHOWDOWN: Riley Gaines challenges ex-ESPN host to race after he says she was a ‘worse swimmer’ than she is ‘MAGA stooge’
RACE HEATING UP: Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger releases first TV ad, slams ‘political nonsense’
‘CRUSH THE WOKE AGENDA’: Former Navy Seal Jared Hudson mounts Senate bid to ‘crush the woke agenda’ as Tuberville seeks governorship
Jared Hudson (Jared Hudson)
FAITH-BASED LEARNING: Pro-life leader praises bill requiring Ten Commandments in Texas schools: ‘A step in the right direction’
Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Elections Newsletter
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