Public Lands News

The Blitz on America's Public Lands Continues

Unfortunately, I have no good news for you—but you probably knew that. So here’s the latest from the fire hose:

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• Interior Secretary Burgum Issues Orders to Open National Monuments to Mining and More: Doug Burgum wasted no time issuing a blistering volley of executive orders aimed at undoing Biden-era protections on almost everything—and doing so as fast as possible. Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante won’t just be slashed; they’ll be opened up to heavy industry.

• The Wyoming State Senate Demands Congress Hand Over All Federal Lands in the State Except Yellowstone: Newly emboldened by the Trump administration, Wyoming is following Utah’s lead, demanding that lands that were never theirs be handed “back”.

• Trump Administration To Gut Endangered Species Act: In an executive order, President Trump has reconstituted the Endangered Species Act Committee—once ominously referred to as the “God Squad.” This committee hasn’t been used in over 40 years, but the administration sees it as a fast-track to bypass ESA safeguards in the name of “drill, baby, drill” and other destructive policies.

• Trump’s hiring freeze creates ‘scary time’ at National Park Service: Trump’s hiring freeze has thrown the National Park Service into disarray, yanking job offers from 2,000 seasonal workers who are the backbone of park operations during peak season. Expect longer lines, trashed campsites, and potential closures of visitor centers, trails, and campgrounds. Former NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis warns that parks will be understaffed, overrun, and unprepared.

• BLM Conducts Hasty Public Comment Period on Oil & Gas Sales: The BLM has quietly slipped out a 30-day public comment period on new oil and gas leasing in Montana. Make sure to submit yours.

• Trump orders USDA to take down websites referencing climate crisis: Can’t say we didn’t see this coming.

• Environmentalists push for stronger old-growth protections in Northwest Forest Plan: The Northwest Forest Management Plan is accepting public comments right now. This plan will govern how some of our most spectacular forests are managed for the next 10–20 years. You can comment here.

• Trump administration will consider redrawing boundaries of national monuments as part of energy push: Another look at the administration’s efforts to gut national monuments like never before.

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My Thoughts

I know that it’s hard to read all of this and know that new orders are coming out every day that take aim at our natural heritage—the birthright of our kids and their kids. It’s infuriating. It’s relentless. But as Thomas Jefferson said, the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. That applies to our public lands just as much as our democracy. The worst thing we can do is accept this as the new normal. Public lands only stay public if we fight for them. So stay informed, stay loud, and don’t let cynicism win out. Let this be the four years that reignited the conservation movement, not the four years that buried it.

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Until next time.

-Jim