Trump Administration Waives Law in Border Wall Dispute Near Presidio, Texas

Miami Fort Lauderdale, FL, July 10, 2026 —

The Trump administration has invoked a waiver of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 in response to a lawsuit challenging the construction of a border wall project near Presidio, Texas. The Presidio Municipal Development District filed the lawsuit, asserting that the border wall’s construction could result in dangerous flooding incidents.

According to the district’s claims, the border wall project may involve alterations to a local levee system. The lawsuit further alleges that federal agencies are not adhering to mandatory coordination requirements. The administration’s decision to waive the Rivers and Harbors Act is intended to accelerate the progress of the border wall project.

However, legal representatives for the plaintiffs contend that this waiver does not resolve the fundamental safety concerns related to potential flooding and the integrity of the levee system. The specific details regarding the timeline for the waiver’s implementation and the full extent of its impact on the ongoing legal proceedings were not immediately available.

The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which typically governs the protection and improvement of rivers and harbors, is central to the legal dispute. The Presidio Municipal Development District’s challenge centers on the potential environmental and safety repercussions of the border wall construction, specifically its interaction with existing flood control infrastructure.

The contractor’s name involved in the border wall project was not provided in the available information. Additionally, the specific agencies involved beyond the general reference to federal agencies were not detailed. The outcome of the waiver on the lawsuit remains a developing aspect of the situation.

Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.

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