State Border Security Reimbursement Act of 2025

This proposal would make the federal government pay back states for certain border security costs. To qualify, a state must have spent more than $2.5 billion on border security and enforcement in the 10 years before the law takes effect, in support of federal efforts. The state would need to send a detailed accounting of its non-federally funded expenses within 180 days after the law is enacted; the federal government must reimburse those costs within one year after the application is submitted. The findings highlight that border security is a federal job and note large state spending—using Texas as an example—to argue that residents of border states are being “taxed twice” for the same purpose.

Key points:

• Who is affected: States that spent more than $2.5 billion on border security in the past 10 years.
• What changes: The federal government must fully reimburse qualifying, non-federally funded state and local border security expenses after the state applies with an accounting.
• When: States must apply within 180 days of enactment; reimbursement is due within one year of the application.