Texas Increases Border Spending By $500M

By Bethany Blankley (The Center Square)
An additional $495.3 million has been transferred from the state’s general fund to support Texas’ border security efforts through Operation Lone Star.
The funding transfer was approved by Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Dade Phelan, Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman, and House Appropriations Committee Chair Dr. Greg Bonnen.
It was done in response to requests made by the heads of several state agencies due to a funding lapse between fiscal years 2020–2021 appropriations and fiscal year 2022 appropriations.
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The state agencies requesting the funding transfer include the departments of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), Public Safety (DPS), Health and Human Services (HHSC), State Health Services (DSHS), Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), and Juvenile Justice (TJJD).
In a letter to the department heads, the governor and other state leaders wrote, “These transfers are meant to support the deployment of the National Guard …

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