Texas Gov. Abbott Announces $26M Grants to Fund Military Communities

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office has announced more than $26 million in grant funding for statewide infrastructure projects in military communities.

The money is funded through the Texas Military Preparedness Commission’s (TMPC) Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) program. Established in 2003, the program’s intent is to preserve, protect, expand and attract new military missions, assets and installations—including encouraging defense-related businesses to expand or relocate in Texas.

“These funds will help ensure Texas military facilities, including our 15 major military installations, are up-to-date with the latest technology to enhance the safety and well-being of Texans and Americans by increasing water access and equipment resiliency,” Abbott said in a statement. “I thank the Texas Military Preparedness Commission for their continued service in supporting our servicemembers so that we can best prepare our state to defend its critical infrastructure.”

The Lone Star State is home to one of the largest military populations, totaling more than 1.7 million veterans and active-duty service members, reserve personnel, and their families.

According to a list last updated March 27, 2026, by Security.org, the five states with the largest military presence based on total active-duty personnel are as follows:

1. California — 216,096
2. Texas — 170,771
3. Virginia — 148,637
4. North Carolina — 116,195
5. Florida — 106,639

When adjusted for population, California drops to No. 25 and Texas to No. 29 as states like Hawaii, Alaska and North Dakota have a higher per-capita average of military members relative to their civilian populations.

Hawaii, for example, has 39 active-duty and reserve personnel per 1,000 residents. Alaska ranks second at 33.9 per 1,000, while the District of Columbia is third at 21.6 per 1,000.

More Than $170 Million Awarded

Abbott’s office said that grant funds will be invested in infrastructure projects and other initiatives to support Texas-based military installations and to protect jobs potentially impacted by any future Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process or other basing decisions.

When adding this new funding as part of Fiscal Year 2026-27 grants, Abbott has in total awarded more than $172 million in grants to military communities through the DEAAG program since 2015.

The following entities will receive FY 2026-2027 DEAAG reimbursements:

• Ark-Tex Council of Governments: $5 million; Red River Army Depot — Fund mission to meet the U.S. Military Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems requirements.
• Bell County: $4.5 million; Fort Hood — Development of an Aquifer Storage and Recovery system.
• City of El Paso: $4 million; Fort Bliss — Increasing water production capacity of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant.
• Val Verde County: $5 million; Laughlin AFB — Modernization of airfield lighting system to FAA standards to meet current and future U.S. Air Force missions.
• City of Corpus Christi: $2.074 million; Corpus Christi Naval Air Station — Replace aging domestic wastewater collection pipes.
• City of Corpus Christi: $990,000; Corpus Christi Army Depot — Installation of four Atmospheric Water Generation units to supplement water usage in high-demand production areas.
• City of San Antonio: $5 million; JBSA- Fort Sam Houston — Renovation partnership with the city of San Antonio, Bexar County, the state of Texas, and the Defense Health Agency of the South Beach facility.