Closure announced for March 31, 2027
The Federal Bureau of Prisons plans to permanently close the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Big Spring and its satellite prison camp in March 2027. If this decision moves forward, Howard County will lose 238 federal jobs, hundreds of families will face an uncertain future, and West Texas will suffer a significant economic blow through lost wages, local spending, and public revenue.
There is still time to change course!
Congress has the authority to review this decision, but they need to hear from our local and state leaders now.
Join us in urging our elected officials to stand up for Big Spring, protect our community, and fight to keep FCI Big Spring open.
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This is not simply the closure of a prison. It is the potential loss of livelihoods, stability, educational opportunities, and economic security for families who have served their community and their country.
From the joint community statement on the FCI Big Spring closure
Understand the closure
FCI Big Spring is a low-security federal prison and satellite camp operated by the Bureau of Prisons. It has served West Texas since 1979 and is one of Howard County's largest employers.
The Bureau of Prisons has announced plans to permanently close the institution and its camp by March 31, 2027. Staff have been advised to begin looking for other jobs, and the roughly 617 people currently held there would be transferred to other facilities. Part of the closure would be carried out through a federal Reduction in Force that eliminates 238 personnel positions.
City and county leaders have formed a transition task group to assess the impact and coordinate local, state, and federal support for affected employees and their families. Community leaders have also asked Congress and the Bureau of Prisons to review the decision and examine its consequences before it becomes final.
A closure of this size removes stable federal payroll from a rural economy that has few replacements for it. The effects compound across jobs, families, and public services.
238 federal positions would be eliminated through a Reduction in Force. These are stable, benefited careers that anchor household budgets across Howard County, and comparable jobs are scarce in the region.
About 1,500 people are tied to the institution, including roughly 600 children. Around 900 family members would feel an immediate loss of income.
Fewer paychecks mean less daily spending at local stores and restaurants, less commercial investment, and fewer customers for the small businesses that rely on steady federal payroll.
Howard County could lose more than 600 residents. Homes that sit vacant slow property tax growth and weaken a housing market that is already thin in a rural county.
Big Spring ISD serves about 3,100 students, roughly 2,300 already economically disadvantaged. Enrollment declines cut state funding tied to population, and more students could qualify as economically disadvantaged after budgets are set.
The county stands to lose census funding tied to population, utility revenue, sales tax, and property tax growth. Fewer dollars are left for roads, public services, and day-to-day county operations.
Local providers lose insured patients when federal employees leave, adding strain to a rural health system that depends on a stable patient base.
FCI Big Spring is an economic anchor for West Texas. Rural communities already work hard to recruit employers and sustain public services, and the loss of a major federal facility makes that harder for the whole region.
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The staff at FCI Big Spring are neighbors, volunteers, and law enforcement professionals with decades of service. These are their words on what the closure means for their families.
I hate that this rushed and impractical decision was made by individuals who have never even visited our institution. We have been left in the dark on how the process of a RIF works, forcing hard working, dedicated Americans to try to figure out the process while deciding if leaving the Bureau or uprooting our families is the best path forward. After years of service in law enforcement, we've just been abandoned like we never mattered.
I have been a resident of Big Spring all of my life. The closure of the prison will not only affect me, but also my immediate and extended family who all live in the area. After so many years of dedication to my community and the government as a whole, it feels terrible to be so easily cast out. Because of how professionally the staff did their job, most of our community did not realize the prison was even here. With the closure, our community should expect to see many negative impacts from the loss of these jobs.
The announcement of the institution's closure came as a complete surprise to my family. My wife and I had planned our finances and future around the expectation that I would complete six more years of service to reach the 30-year mark before mandating out. Instead, we are now being forced to make life-changing decisions under tremendous time pressure.
I now face the difficult choice of either transferring to continue my career or retiring earlier than planned. Neither option feels like a well-informed decision because we have not had adequate time to carefully evaluate the financial, personal, and long-term consequences. The rushed timeline creates uncertainty and increases the likelihood that the choices we make will negatively affect our future.
An injury I sustained on the job last year further complicates this situation. It directly impacts my ability to plan my career and transition into retirement, while adding the pressure of managing ongoing health concerns and future employment viability. At this stage of our lives, my wife and I are experiencing increased medical needs, making decisions about healthcare coverage and treatment even more critical. These choices are also being forced into an accelerated timeline.
The financial impact on our family is significant. We face uncertainty about our retirement plans, income, benefits, healthcare costs, and overall financial security. The stress of not knowing what our future will look like has created a tremendous emotional burden on both my wife and me.
Having dedicated 24 years of government service, this sudden closure has created severe personal and professional hardships that will affect us for years to come.
FCI Big Spring Officer, 24 years of service
Staff at FCI Big Spring give their time across Howard County. These are a few moments from their work in the community.
A closer look at what the Bureau of Prisons decision means for Howard County, from the 238 jobs on the line to the families and local businesses that depend on FCI Big Spring.
How the closure would ripple across jobs, schools, healthcare, and the county budget, and what residents can do about it.
The Bureau of Prisons has announced plans to permanently close FCI Big Spring and its satellite camp by March 31, 2027. Staff have already been advised to begin looking for other work.
238 federal personnel positions are slated for elimination through a Reduction in Force. More broadly, about 1,500 people in the community are tied to the institution, including roughly 600 children in employee households.
The roughly 617 individuals currently held at FCI Big Spring would be transferred to other federal facilities. About 180 families of incarcerated individuals live in Howard County.
City and county leaders have formed a transition task group to assess the impact and coordinate local, state, and federal support for affected employees and their families.
Community leaders have asked Congress and the Bureau of Prisons to review the decision, examine its economic and community impacts, explore alternatives that preserve federal employment, and allow local testimony before the action becomes final. Public input is part of that process.
Send an email to your United States senators and your representative through the form on this website. It takes about two minutes and asks them to review the closure before it is final.
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The Bureau of Prisons announced plans to permanently close FCI Big Spring and its satellite camp by March 31, 2027, with staff advised to begin looking for other work.
City and county leaders established a transition task group to assess the impact and coordinate support for affected employees and families.
Community leaders are asking Congress and the Bureau of Prisons to review the decision and examine its consequences before it becomes final.
You have seen what the closure would cost Howard County. The most useful thing you can do today is tell your elected officials to review it. It takes about two minutes.
Email Your Elected Officials