In a letter to U.S. congressional leaders, the governor blamed previous border security policy for leaving Texas “defenseless,” forcing state officials to spend billions.

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott asked Congress to reimburse the state for billions of dollars in Texas taxpayer money spent on border security during former President Joe Biden’s administration. In letters Thursday to congressional leaders and the state delegation, Abbott requested more than $11 billion from Washington.

In a letter to Congressional leaders on Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested reimbursement for over $11 billion spent on Operation Lone Star, launched to secure the southern border during the Biden-Harris administration.