# U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Type: Company

Source: Legal & RegTech Intelligence Brief — https://getlegalbrief.com/entity/us-department-of-agriculture-usda-company
Canonical HTML page: https://getlegalbrief.com/entity/us-department-of-agriculture-usda-company

## Timeline

- **2026-08-03**: CBP Orders Halt to New Well Drilling — Customs and Border Protection instructs contractors to stop drilling new wells in New Mexico and announces collaboration with state and federal agencies on a groundwater strategy.
- **2026-07**: Rancher Raises Alarm at Public Meeting — Russell Johnson discovers an industrial well on his grazing lease and voices concerns at a public meeting about its potential to drain groundwater needed for livestock.
- **2026-07**: State Inspects Unauthorized Wells — New Mexico officials inspect two of eight identified unpermitted wells and find them pumping about 200 gallons per minute.

## Recent coverage (1 stories)

### CBP Halts Border Wall Well Drilling in NM After 8 Unauthorized Wells Found
2026-08-08 12:10:36 · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 2

A federal stop-work order on border wall water wells in New Mexico raises urgent legal questions over state water permits, sovereign immunity, and potential takings claims. Ranchers warn that unpermitted industrial pumping could annihilate their livelihoods amid a historic drought.
Full story: https://getlegalbrief.com/story/border-wall-water-rights-legal-showdown

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