The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a major construction contract to Montana-based Barnard Construction Company to build a new section of border barrier in Presidio County, Texas.
The contract, valued at approximately $960 million, will fund construction of a border wall that follows the Rio Grande from the Hudspeth–Jeff Davis County line to the town of Ruidosa in northwestern Presidio County. The project is part of a broader federal initiative to expand border infrastructure in the Big Bend region.
The award was announced on March 5, the same day Barnard Construction secured additional federal contracts for border wall construction in nearby areas, including Hudspeth County and Del Rio.
County records indicate that planning discussions between contractors and Presidio County officials began weeks before the federal contract was formally announced.
Documents obtained through the Texas Public Information Act show that contractors started reaching out to county officials in mid-January regarding permits and infrastructure needed to support the project.
On January 28, Uqba Manzoor, an engineer-in-training with Barnard Construction, contacted Presidio County Road and Bridge Supervisor Ruben Carrasco regarding wastewater permitting.
“We are building the border fence,” Manzoor wrote in an email later that afternoon. “We will have to build an RV park that will require sceptic [sic].”
The message suggests the company anticipated construction logistics that would require temporary housing or facilities for workers involved in the large-scale project.
Barnard Construction, headquartered in Bozeman, Montana, is an established infrastructure contractor with decades of experience in major public works projects.
The company was founded in 1975 by CEO Timothy Barnard and has worked on large-scale developments across multiple sectors.
“We offer expertise in all aspects of construction, including dams, reservoirs, hydroelectric power, tunnels and shafts, oil and gas pipelines, utilities, power transmission, and environmental efforts,” their website reads. “Barnard delivers innovative solutions for challenging projects.”
The firm has previously been involved in complex infrastructure developments, particularly projects involving energy, water systems, and heavy civil engineering.
The Presidio County project is one component of a wider push to expand border barriers across sections of Texas.
On the same day as the Presidio award, Barnard Construction received contracts for additional wall construction upstream in Hudspeth County valued at around $1 billion, and another $600 million project in Del Rio.
Together, the contracts represent billions of dollars in federal infrastructure spending tied to border security.
The Big Bend region, known for its rugged terrain and remote communities, has been a focal point of debate surrounding border wall construction because of its environmental sensitivity and cultural significance.
The project also comes amid ongoing discussions about federal contracting transparency.
In October, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem waived several laws governing financial transparency in government contracting to accelerate border barrier construction in the Big Bend region.
Previous reporting from Barnard’s hometown newspaper, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, raised similar concerns during earlier border wall contract awards.
“There’s always questions when it comes to federal contracting on what we are buying and how we are buying it, and this certainly raises a lot of those red flags,” Scott Amey, an attorney with the D.C.-based Project on Government Oversight, told the Chronicle. “Contracts are supposed to go to responsible bidders only, and these contracts are supposed to be without favoritism.”
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Public records also show that Barnard and members of his leadership team have donated millions of dollars to Republican political campaigns across the country, according to campaign finance database OpenSecrets.
Construction of the Presidio County barrier could significantly affect communities along the Rio Grande, including the small towns of Candelaria and Ruidosa, which lie along the proposed route.
The project may bring temporary economic activity related to construction, including jobs and local spending by workers. At the same time, it may raise concerns about environmental impacts, land use, and cross-border relations in the region.
A representative for Barnard Construction was not immediately available for comment at the time of reporting. Local officials and community groups are expected to monitor the project as planning and construction move forward.
As federal border infrastructure projects continue to expand in West Texas, the Presidio County development is likely to remain a topic of attention for residents, policymakers, and environmental advocates across the Big Bend region.
Originally reported by Sam Karas in The Big Bend Sentinel.
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