Earlier this week, an administration official told NBC News that there were no plans to use federal agents to arrest Texas lawmakers who left the state.

Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said on Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel has granted his request for the federal government to assist with locating Texas House Democrats who fled the state in protest of GOP-led redistricting efforts.

Texas Republicans have been trying to bring the state Democratic lawmakers back in order to vote on their redistricting plan.