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Originally Published in San Angelo LIVE on July 29, 2025

SAN ANGELO, TX — In the first session at the 2025 West Texas Legislative Summit, Rep. August Pfluger opened a discussion about how the One Big Beautiful Bill impacted the Customs and Border Protection mission at Mathis Field Municipal Airport in San Angelo.

The One Big Beautiful Bill has drawn criticism for what critics call excessive spending, although it also made the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent and added other tax cuts for specific taxpayers—particularly in the service industry and for retirees.

The panel discussion, moderated by Pfluger, included questioning of Executive Assistant Commissioner Jonathan P. Miller of Air and Marine Operations at CBP. Miller noted that the budget bill funded upgrades to the MQ-9A Predator B unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to MQ-9B models. The longer wingspan allows for extended sortie duration, which will increase the importance of the San Angelo location in west central Texas. Miller also said the hangar facility on the north end of Mathis Field has funding for expansion from the bill.

Accompanying Miller on the stage was Griffin Decker, staff director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). The HPSCI recently released an intelligence report that aims to discredit the Trump-Russia collusion allegations stemming from the 2016 presidential election. He said releasing the information was important for healing the country from where top leadership in the intelligence community was corrupted by politics.

Pfluger wove the questioning to matters that impact the Concho Valley. For example, Pfluger asked Decker how an aspiring student at Angelo State University can prepare for a career in the intelligence community (IC). Decker advised gaining expertise in another field and remaining mindful of solving intelligence issues. An intel degree is necessary but secondary to real-world industry knowledge, he said.

Decker said the intelligence that keeps him up at night revolves around cybersecurity, another forte of ASU's degree offerings. He noted that with a cyber attack, a terrorist or foreign government can cause similar damage to U.S. infrastructure as a physical attack.

Miller said Mexican drug cartels have deployed drones along the border.

"We need more counter-drone capabilities. It's not a matter of 'if' but 'when' these cartel drones are turned directly against our agents," he warned.

The West Texas Legislative Summit is an all-day conference of primarily Texas lawmakers discussing how west Texas is "driving American strength" in defense, energy, and agriculture.