Shrinking local tax revenue
Reduced sales and property tax revenue strains city services and infrastructure.
Closure announced for March 31, 2027
Closing FCI Big Spring Would Devastate Our Community
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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238
Federal jobs slated for elimination through a Reduction in Force
~1,500
People in the community tied to FCI Big Spring
617
Incarcerated individuals who would be relocated
1979
Serving West Texas for nearly five decades
The ripple effect
Beyond the gates of FCI Big Spring
The closure starts with federal jobs, but the effects spread outward through Howard County. This is how one decision reaches the whole community.
238
Quality federal jobs lost
Stable careers with federal benefits that have supported local families for decades.
900+
Neighbors directly affected
Spouses and children who face an immediate loss of income and possible relocation.
March 31, 2027
Final closure date
A definitive end to a pillar of the community established in 1979.
The community ripple effect
Local business
Fewer paychecks mean less spending at local stores and restaurants.
Healthcare
Local providers lose revenue as insured federal patients leave the area.
Housing and real estate
Property values face pressure from vacant homes and declining rental demand.
School funding
A declining population means less state funding and fewer resources for students.
Loss of human capital
Many employees serve as local coaches, first responders, mentors, and civic leaders.
The path forward
Big Spring Transition Task Group
A new local group formed to coordinate resources and identify economic opportunities for the community.
Community engagement
Residents are encouraged to share constructive ideas and resources with local leaders.
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
What the closure means for Big Spring
A federal decision with local consequences
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.
Who would be affected
- Correctional staff and other federal employees at the institution and camp
- Roughly 1,500 people across the community tied to the facility
- About 600 children in employee households
- Around 900 family members who would feel an immediate loss of income
- About 180 families of incarcerated individuals living in Howard County
- Local businesses, schools, and healthcare providers that depend on steady payroll
Key facts about the closure
March 31, 2027
Target date for permanent closure of the institution and its satellite camp
238
Federal personnel positions eliminated through a Reduction in Force
617
Incarcerated individuals to be transferred to other facilities
~180
Families of incarcerated individuals living in Howard County
2,300
Of about 3,100 Big Spring ISD students are already economically disadvantaged
48 years
FCI Big Spring has anchored the local economy since 1979
The cost reaches well beyond the prison gates
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.
Jobs and paychecks
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.
Families
About 1,500 people are tied to the institution, including roughly 600 children. Around 900 family members would feel an immediate loss of income.
Local businesses
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.
Housing
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.
Schools
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.
Tax revenue and county services
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.
Healthcare
Local providers lose insured patients when federal employees leave, adding strain to a rural health system that depends on a stable patient base.
Regional economy
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.
The people behind the numbers
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.
FCI Big Spring Officer
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.
FCI Big Spring Officer
Lifelong Big Spring resident
Lifelong Big Spring resident
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
Neighbors on and off the clock
Staff at FCI Big Spring give their time across Howard County. These are a few moments from their work in the community.
Hear the Truth About the Impacts of FCI Big Spring Closure
Big Spring Braces for Federal Prison Closure
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.
Big Spring Braces for Federal Prison Closure
How the closure would ripple across jobs, schools, healthcare, and the county budget, and what residents can do about it.
Fact Sheets and City Statements
City Statement
Mayor Robert H. Moore Statement
Read the statement on Facebook
Flyer
Shiloh Salazar For Texas Flyer
View the flyer (PDF)
News Video
NewsWest 9 Story
Watch the story on FacebookFrequently asked questions
When would FCI Big Spring close?
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.
How many jobs are affected?
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.
What happens to the people incarcerated there?
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.
Is anything being done locally?
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.
Can the closure still be stopped?
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.
What can I do to help?
Send an email to your local and state elected officials through the Take Action tab. It takes about two minutes and asks them to stand up for Big Spring.
Latest news
Add new entries at the top as the campaign develops. This section is built to be updated easily.
July 2026
Closure announced for March 2027
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.
July 2026
Local transition task group formed
City and county leaders established a transition task group to assess the impact and coordinate support for affected employees and families.
Ongoing
Call for a federal review
Community leaders are asking Congress and the Bureau of Prisons to review the decision and examine its consequences before it becomes final.
Email Your Local & State Elected Officials
Federal officials are moving quickly. We need your help speaking up for our Big Spring community. The form below sends your message directly to your local and state elected officials.
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Big Spring Needs Your Voice
You have seen what the closure would cost Howard County. The most useful thing you can do today is tell your local and state elected officials to stand up for Big Spring. It takes about two minutes.
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