Murray, Larsen Urge Trump Administration to Fund Sumas and Lynden Border Station Modernization Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sent a letter to General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Edward Forst requesting GSA prioritize construction of two stalled border station projects in Northwest Washington. Senator Murray and Representative Larsen sent this letter on September 22 and have yet to receive response from GSA.

"It has come to our attention that Washington state's Kenneth G. Ward and Sumas Land Ports of Entry (LPOE) projects are temporarily prevented from moving forward," the lawmakers wrote. "We write to express our concern regarding this decision by General Services Administration (GSA)."

A land port of entry (LPOE) is a federal border facility used to control the entry and departure of people and cargo at a land border. Congress appropriated $3.4 billion to modernize 26 LPOEs across the United States in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, which both Senator Murray and Representative Larsen helped become law. As of August 12, 2026, the GSA has temporarily prevented nine of those projects from moving forward, including the Kenneth G. Ward Land Port of Entry in Lynden and the Sumas Land Port of Entry.

"Both LPOEs are vital border crossings for Washington state and Canada and play a significant role in trade and economic development that is relevant to the economic vitality of the United States," the lawmakers continued. "Delaying these projects will have consequential impacts on the nation's supply chain, labor market, and national security."

Sen. Murray and Rep. Larsen stressed the importance of certainty about the status of the border station projects for city officials in Sumas and Lynden to plan for the impact that construction will have to downtown buildings and the local economy.

"These projects are also key to local development plans in the cities of Sumas and Lynden, where the LPOEs are located," the lawmakers wrote. "LPOE modernization will impact several existing buildings in Sumas's downtown core, and Lynden is preparing to take on additional commercial traffic. Prolonged uncertainty on project timelines will only lead to more disruption and delays in economic development of these cities."

The lawmakers urged GSA Administrator Forst to prioritize the Kenneth G. Ward and Sumas Land Port of Entry projects when the GSA reassesses the prioritization of the remaining nine LPOEs in the coming months and requested continued updates on decisions regarding the projects.

The full text of the letter can be read here.

Murray and Larsen Conduct Oversight of GSA Under the Trump Administration

As Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Murray has led oversight of GSA's reckless effort to dump federal properties, pressing the Trump administration on why it terminated leases without notifying Congress as required by law, and how veterans, taxpayers, Tribal members, and farmers would still get the in-person help they depend on. Murray continues to hold the Trump administration accountable for skirting the law, keeping Congress in the dark, and cutting off services families rely on.

In a Transportation & Infrastructure Committee oversight hearing in March, Rep. Larsen raised concerns about the GSA's tumultuous first 14 months under the Trump administration and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that the GSA signed with the Defense Ministry of Pakistan without providing evidence of the GSA's legal jurisdiction to enter into the MOU or engage in redeveloping the private hotel. The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has jurisdiction over the GSA.

This July, Rep. Larsen and Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Ranking Member Greg Stanton (AZ-04) sent a letter to Administrator Forst seeking answers about the agency's involvement with the renovation of the Roosevelt Hotel and reporting from Bloomberg that the GSA signed a $1.4 million contract with Sullivan & Cromwell-a law firm with significant ties to the Trump administration-to provide legal services regarding the privately-owned property.

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