Urge Congress to oppose H.R. 521 and S. 220 the Senate companion to eliminate the Antiquities Act and strip Presidents of their authority to designate monuments that protect ou r natural resources and cultural heritage.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of celebrating National Public Lands Day with our amazing staff and Friends Network partners in New Mexico, Congressional champions, and public land enthusiasts in the community to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands. The contrast between public lands celebrations and today couldn't be starker. Today’s federal government shutdown marks the latest blow to unprotected public lands across the country. The shutdown, combined with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s plan to designate oil and gas permitting as "essential" and the administration’s threat to lay off thousands more federal employees, makes it clear that this administration prioritizes corporations over communities. Here's what they can't shut down: our resolve. Despite an administration historically opposed to public lands and conservation, our collective voice has been able to fight off every attempt to sell off public lands. That's the power of what we've built together—and it's why we can't stop now. In this newsletter, you'll find two urgent threats that need your voice right now, celebrations worth sharing, a tribute to our founding trustee Richard Moe, and ways to deepen your connection to this growing movement. Your action matters—let's get to work.

Washington, DC – Following the mass layoffs of federal employees within the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management earlier this year and ongoing moves to sell off America’s public lands, today’s federal government shutdown is another blow to the country’s remaining unprotected areas of nature.  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, including the National Conservation Lands: “We call upon Congress to uphold its responsibilities under the Constitution and pass a budget that keeps our public land management agencies intact and ensures that the administration executes the funding appropriated by Congress for public land management agencies accordingly. Anything less is a betrayal of our Constitution and the nation’s commitment to public lands, public service, and future generations. “What we have seen over the past nine months is a blatant effort to undermine and weaken the very institutions that safeguard our country’s remaining natural and wild places–our precious public lands and water sources that tell the story of America’s culture, help mitigate the climate crisis, prevent wildfires, protect wildlife corridors, and provide for outdoor recreation experiences that are supporting local economies. “Elected leaders behind this effort don’t care about the businesses and local communities that depend on access to these places to pay their bills. They don’t care about the wildlife that will be harmed after oil and gas companies desecrate this land. They don’t care about the families who hunt, fish, camp and recreate on this land, or the Indigenous communities for whom access to their ancestral lands is vital. In short, they’re showing us very clearly that they only care about the corporations who will benefit from privatizing public lands. “Roughly 200 million of the 245 million acres of nature and wildlife beyond and between the national parks and overseen by the Bureau of Land Management are not protected from mining, drilling, or other development, and both the government shutdown, Sec. Burgum’s plan to designate oil permitting as “essential”, and reported reductions in workforce set the stage for the administration to make good on its promise to sell off America’s remaining natural resources. “Congress must ensure that the integrity of the federal budget process is maintained, and that the Executive Branch spends what the Congress appropriates. Any other outcome is a threat to the integrity of our public lands and the agencies that manage them, and a clear effort by elected leaders who are hell bent on privatizing the country’s remaining public lands. ####

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Conservation Lands Foundation today denounced the introduction of two bills by U.S. Representative Paul Gosar that seek to abolish Ironwood Forest and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monuments in Arizona. These proposed rollbacks represent a direct assault on America’s public lands, Indigenous heritage, and the will of the American people.  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation: “Congressman Gosar’s wrongheaded legislation is not just an attack on iconic monuments in Arizona, it tees up potential attacks on cherished monuments in other states as well. These monuments were designated to protect irreplaceable cultural sites, fragile ecosystems, and landscapes that generations of people — including Tribes, local communities, and outdoor enthusiasts — have fought to preserve. This move ignores science, public opinion, and our shared responsibility to protect the places that make America unique. “Ironwood Forest National Monument, designated 25 years ago with overwhelming local support, spans 129,000 acres of the biologically rich Sonoran Desert. It is home to centuries-old ironwood trees and some of the region’s most significant archaeological and cultural sites. Just last week, the Tucson City Council reaffirmed its support for the monument. “Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, designated in 2023 after decades of advocacy by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, protects ancestral lands and the Colorado River watershed from uranium mining and other threats. It honors Indigenous leadership and preserves the region's clean air, water, and sacred sites while allowing for traditional uses like hunting and grazing. “We have to ask, does Congressman Gosar actually talk to his constituents? The public overwhelmingly supports these monuments. According to the 2025 State of the Rockies poll, 89% of Western voters — across political affiliations — support keeping national monument designations in place. In Arizona, 80% of voters support Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, including large majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. “The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to reject these extreme, anti-public lands proposals and stand with the American people, the Tribes and communities who have worked tirelessly to protect these lands for future generations.” About Conservation Lands Foundation The Conservation Lands Foundation represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands and similar protected public lands in the Western Arctic. ###

Summer is winding down and as we start to dream of fall excursions, we remember that every trail hiked, every sunrise witnessed, every moment of peace we find on public lands depends on our continued vigilance and advocacy. That's why your support of the Conservation Lands Foundation is so crucial. When equipped with the resources we need, we remain the fierce advocates these places deserve. The threats to public lands are mounting, and our collective defense grows stronger every day to meet them. In this newsletter, we cover the upcoming appropriations fight in Congress and our move to defend Chuckwalla National Monument (CA) in court. We also share key moments of celebration and strength with our Friends Grassroots Network.

Washington, DC - Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee released its Fiscal Year 2026 Interior appropriations bill, which rejected the steep cuts the White House requested for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The bill provides marginal reductions in funding for the BLM, while ensuring funding for the National Conservation Lands system is maintained at $59.135 million, equal to what was enacted in Fiscal Year 2025. The bill cleared markup with a bipartisan vote of 26-2. Below is a statement from David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including the 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands. "The Conservation Lands Foundation applauds the Senate Appropriations Committee for delivering a clear bipartisan, bicameral rejection of the White House's proposed cuts to critical public lands programs. While we are disappointed by the slight reductions in overall Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funding, we applaud the Committee for recognizing the need to protect the National Conservation Lands system from the nearly 75% cut in funding proposed by the White House. “We particularly commend Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nevada) and Rep Dina Titus (D-Nevada) for their exceptional leadership in championing funding for the BLM and National Conservation Lands. We’d also like to thank the members of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee including Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) for understanding the vital need to properly fund the National Conservation Lands system, which protects 38 million acres of irreplaceable public lands across the United States. “While we are pleased that the bill maintains National Conservation Lands funding at $59.135 million, preventing harmful cuts proposed by the White House, we remain concerned about the historical underinvestment to the nation’s largest public land manager and the conservation lands it stewards. “The BLM and National Conservation Lands system have been chronically underfunded for years, and the agency needs meaningful funding increases to address decades of deferred maintenance, visitor services and resource protection. Nevertheless, we urge swift adoption of the Senate's funding levels, which at minimum provide stability for the agency to fulfill its mission. “In addition, we applaud the Committee for including provisions that will ensure the BLM maintains adequate staffing levels and protects vulnerable and valuable landscapes across the West. Prohibiting preleasing and leasing activities within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument boundaries in Utah, protecting the Chaco Canyon cultural landscape in New Mexico, and directing the BLM to conduct government-to-government consultation with Tribal governments in relation to Caja del Rio in New Mexico demonstrates principled stewardship of irreplaceable cultural and natural treasures. “These provisions are in stark contrast to the several harmful policy riders included in the House FY26 Interior appropriations bill, which would prevent the implementation of widely-popular policies and land management plans shaped by and for the public like the Public Lands Rule and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan. “The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to swiftly pass the Senate's responsible approach to public lands funding and reject the harmful policy riders in the House Interior appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026.” ### Contact: Shevawn Bell, shevawn(at)conservationlands.org

Contacts: Shevawn Bell, Communications Director, Conservation Lands Foundation, shevawn@conservationlands.org Washington, DC - Yesterday, more than 65 organizations urged House Leadership to protect Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from House members who are attempting to use the appropriations process to open the monument to development and destruction. The letter calls on leadership to remove language from the House Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill that would prohibit funding for the monument, unless it is managed pursuant to an outdated management plan from the first Trump administration. Specifically, Section 137 (pg. 75) of the House 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill would require the Department of the Interior to manage Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument “in compliance with the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans…dated February 2020.” If passed, this language effectively implements Trump’s 2017 illegal shrinking of the Monument, and sets a dangerous precedent for not only Grand Staircase-Escalante, but all of our nation's National Monuments. Quotes and additional information can be found below. “The agency cuts and harmful policy riders included in the House 2026 Interior Appropriations bill is another backdoor attempt to attack America’s cherished public lands and national monuments,” said Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “This bill will severely impact the cultural, natural, and historical resources of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by prohibiting the Bureau of Land Management from implementing the updated monument plan, which was carefully developed through extensive public input and meaningful engagement. This misguided language, along with the deep cuts to land management agencies like the BLM, ignores the voices of local communities, Tribal nations who hold this land sacred, and the rural communities who depend on these monuments as economic drivers.” “Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of the most treasured public landscapes in America. But what makes it like nowhere else—remarkable paleontological discoveries and cultural connections, jaw-dropping scenery, and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems—is at risk if the 2026 Appropriations bill passes,” said Travis Hammill, DC Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) . “While members of Utah’s House of Representatives and other public land opponents continue their attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante, SUWA, our members, and our partners will unwaveringly continue to protect and defend the Monument for current and future generations.” As stated in the letter: “... Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah is the first and largest national monument entrusted to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conserve, restore, and protect. First designated a National Monument in 1996 and reinstated to its full boundaries in 2021, Grand Staircase-Escalante contains unique scientific and historic resources that offer unparalleled research opportunities for earth and climate scientists, paleontologists, geologists, archaeologists, historians, and conservation biologists. In addition, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, with its slot canyons and sweeping vistas, has become a destination place for people around the world in search of a unique wilderness experience… The BLM initiated a resource management planning (RMP) process for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on July 28, 2022 in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10286. A final RMP was released on August 29, 2024 and includes the full boundaries of the established monument. As with all National Monuments, the development and implementation of an RMP is essential for providing guidance on management and clarity to the public on management decisions. Sec. 137 would usurp this important public process.” Read the full letter here. About the Monument Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was designated as a national monument in 1996 to protect the incredible scientific, ecological, and paleontological resources within its 1.9 million acres. This crown jewel of America’s national public lands was the first monument managed by the BLM, and was the first unit in the agency’s now robust and expansive “National Conservation Lands” system. Since its establishment, heightened protections for the Monument’s geology, paleontology, wildlife, plant communities, and ancestral sites have succeeded in preserving these unique values for generations to come, and local communities on the Monument’s doorstep have benefited as well. More than 25 years later, the numerous benefits of protecting Grand Staircase-Escalante are clear: the monument preserves a remarkable ecosystem at the landscape-level and sets the stage for future discovery about human, paleontological, and geologic history on the Colorado Plateau. On December 4, 2017, President Trump ignored millions of public comments and eliminated large swaths of the Monument, slashing it by 47 percent – roughly 900,000 acres. Thankfully, on October 8, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation restoring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to its full, original boundaries. In 2023, BLM began the process of developing a new management plan for the full Monument. During both the scoping phase of the current planning effort and after a draft plan was released, CLF and SUWA members and supporters of public lands conservation across the country submitted comments to the BLM calling for a holistic, conservation-based management plan worthy of this remarkable place. In August 2023 , a Federal District Court Judge in Utah dismissed lawsuits brought by the State of Utah, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and others challenging President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to restore the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. The state and other plaintiffs quickly appealed that decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which held oral argument on September 26, 2024, and will issue a decision in the coming months. SUWA, CLF and eight other conservation organizations have intervened on behalf of the United States to defend President Biden’s restoration of the Monuments, as have four Tribal nations. ### Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) leads the national movement of community-based advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards a world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  CONTACT: Shevawn Bell, shevawn (at) conservationlands.org Washington, DC – The Fiscal Year 2026 Interior appropriations bill introduced in the U.S. House today betrays America’s commitment to public lands and waters by slashing budgets for public land management agencies and blocking the implementation of land management plans shaped by the public. Below is a statement from David Feinman, Vice President of Government Affairs of the Conservation Lands Foundation, on the introduction of this funding package. CLF represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands and similar protected public lands in the Western Arctic. “This proposed Interior appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 introduced in the House betrays this country’s decades-long commitment to managing public lands for the use and enjoyment of all Americans. “The House Interior spending bill proposes significant cuts to the Department of the Interior ($61 million below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level) and Bureau of Land Management ($110.4 million below the FY2025 enacted level) as well as draconian policy riders that block implementation of critical land management plans that ensure public lands are managed responsibly for all who use them. “These decisions by the House have real world impacts, including risks to public safety, the erosion of visitor services and irreparable harm to cultural and ecological resources on public lands. A well-funded Bureau of Land Management is essential to preserving access, supporting rural economies and ensuring safe and sustainable recreation. “Public lands stewarded by the BLM are growing rapidly in popularity and visitorship, yet Congressional funding for the agency to manage and protect these lands has not kept pace. Adequately funding the BLM is one of the most efficient and effective ways we can prevent wildfires, ensure public access to outdoor recreation and preserve the ecological and cultural values of National Conservation Lands. “The package also prevents the implementation of widely-popular policies like the Public Lands Rule and land management plans shaped by and for the public like the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan. “This year, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands. On behalf of the millions of Americans across the country who value public lands and waters, we call on Congress to develop and pass a funding bill that invests in America’s public lands, the civil servants who steward them and the processes that ensure their proper management is an essential national priority.”

Washington, DC – Today, President Trump signed the budget reconciliation bill into law. The final package includes several provisions that represent a sweeping rollback of conservation progress that will irrevocably damage public lands and waters, greatly diminish wildlife habitat and erode one of the few things that connects us all, regardless of race, religion or political party. Here are just a few egregious elements of the bill: Slashes royalty rates for onshore and offshore drilling—giving Big Oil sweetheart deals at taxpayers’ expense. Reinstates noncompetitive leasing and mandates unprecedented quarterly oil and gas lease sales across nine Western states. Opens vast swaths of the Western Arctic to new oil development, reversing critical protections under the Biden administration. Cuts coal royalty rates nearly in half, further subsidizing the fossil fuel industry with public land giveaways. Rescinds $500 million from the Inflation Reduction Act intended for ecosystem restoration and resilience on public lands. Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation. “The leader of the most powerful country in the world believes America’s public lands, wildlife and rural economies are nothing more than an opportunity to fill billionaire's pockets. The passage of the budget reconciliation bill is in direct contradiction to the majority of voters on both sides of the aisle who believe public lands are what makes America great and are worth protecting, conserving and maintaining for the good of all, not just the wealthy few. “While we remain strongly opposed to the actions of this President and the elected officials who enacted this deeply unpopular and anti-American bill through Congress, we are grateful to the bipartisan group of lawmakers who successfully defeated one of the most dangerous proposals in the bill: an attempt by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) to sell-off 1.2 million acres of public lands. In particular, we thank Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and James Risch (R-ID) for their principled stand against the public land liquidation scheme. “The next battle is in the appropriations process, where we will push for critical funding for the Bureau of Land Management and the National Conservation Lands. America’s public lands belong to all of us—not to oil companies, mining executives or lawmakers who live in fear of presidential retribution.“ ### Contact: Shevawn Bell, shevawn @conservationlands.org 208-890-2778

Washington, DC - Today the Senate passed the most dangerous environmental legislation in modern U.S. history, which includes sweeping measures that gut environmental safeguards, fast-track development on cherished wildspaces like the Western Arctic, and give sweetheart deals away to big oil and gas companies.  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including the 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands. "The Senate's budget reconciliation package is a wholesale assault on America's public lands and waters. Voters from all walks of life should know that policymakers who passed this package have only corporate financial interests at heart when it comes to our nation’s cherished public lands and waters. “Among the most destructive elements of this bill include language to mandate quarterly oil and gas lease sales on unprecedented amounts of national public lands; bring back noncompetitive leasing - the bargain basement of oil and gas leasing - on public lands; lower royalty rates paid to U.S. taxpayers for drilling on public lands; and mandate lease sales every two years in the Western Arctic (NPR-A) with a minimum of 4 million acres offered per sale. "Selling out America’s public lands, most notably the Western Arctic, to oil and gas companies would cause devastating harm to largely intact ecosystems that support Indigenous and local communities, outdoor recreation, local economies and wildlife habitats. "We call on the House of Representatives to act on behalf of the majority of the American public by rejecting this destructive bill. America's public lands are integral to the fabric of our nation: protecting them for the benefit of all Americans is in the national interest.” ###

Washington, DC - Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) yesterday withdrew his amendment to the One Big Beautiful Act that would have mandated the sale of up to 1.2 million acres of Bureau of Land Management public lands across 11 Western states, citing his inability to guarantee the lands wouldn't be sold to foreign interests like China. The withdrawal came after sustained bipartisan opposition from elected officials and the American public who understood that America's public lands should remain in public hands. Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including the 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands. "While the Conservation Lands Foundation celebrates this critical victory for public lands, the Senate's budget reconciliation package still contains many harmful provisions that sell out America's public lands and waters, most notably Western Arctic drilling requirements that will decimate critical wildlife habitat in America's largest remaining piece of intact public land. “Senator Lee’s public land sell-off amendment was on the wrong side of history and the American people. Polling consistently shows overwhelming bipartisan support for protecting public lands, and millions of Americans expressed fierce opposition to his sell-off scheme through calls, emails, and public comments. "We thank the senators and representatives from both parties—including Senators Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), James Risch (R-Idaho), and others who stood on the right side of this issue—for their principled opposition to selling off America's public lands. Their voices, combined with the overwhelming public opposition, forced Senator Lee to abandon his dangerous proposal to sell off 1.2 million acres of public lands and shut out public access to irreplaceable places local communities use and rely on daily—beloved trailheads and access points for hiking, biking, hunting, off-highway vehicle recreation, and fishing. "While we celebrate this important victory for public lands, we remain deeply concerned about the provisions mandating oil and gas lease sales in the Western Arctic. Selling out the Western Arctic to oil and gas companies would cause devastating harm to largely intact ecosystems that support Arctic Indigenous communities and subsistence access, millions of migratory birds, the Western Arctic and Teshekpuk Lake caribou herds, spawning fish and other marine life. "More than 250,000 people commented in support of Western Arctic protections. We call on all U.S. Senators to act on behalf of the majority of the American public by rejecting this shortsighted proposal to decimate one of the largest intact wild landscapes in the U.S. "America's public lands are integral to the fabric of our nation: protecting them for the benefit of all Americans is in the national interest. The American public’s passionate and loud opposition to Lee’s amendment sends an unignorable message to elected officials that Americans care deeply about public lands, but our work is far from over. Public lands must remain in public hands for everyone to enjoy, not just the greedy few."

Washington, DC - Yesterday, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced text for the Senate amendment to the One Big Beautiful Act requiring the sale of up to 1.8 million acres of Bureau of Land Management public lands managed by the federal government for the benefit of the American people, reviving a failed effort that was stripped out of the bill before it passed the House. The amendment also adds Western Arctic drilling provisions back into the budget reconciliation package that were previously removed in the House version. The House provision on public lands sales would have mandated the sale of millions of acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada to the highest bidder. Senator Lee’s new amendment would expand that mandate to millions of acres across nine Western states, puts units of the National Conservation Lands at risk, and provides no requirement for public hearings on the disposal of these lands. The Western Arctic drilling provisions would require six lease sales over the next ten years and eliminate the Biden administration’s regulations that safeguard the livelihood of Indigenous people and critical wildlife habitat in America’s largest remaining piece of intact public land. Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including the 38 million acres of National Conservation Lands. “Selling off public lands will not benefit the people of Utah, Alaska or any other state, but it will benefit billionaires who seek to profit from these priceless lands and waters. “America’s public lands are integral to the fabric of our nation: protecting them for the benefit of all Americans is in the national interest. When we continue to protect public lands, we continue to support the multi-faceted benefits that public lands bring to everyone: access to hunting and fishing, camping and hiking and the ability to enjoy unspoiled wilderness and natural areas that belong to all of us. “Allowing development in the country’s largest remaining piece of intact public land, which is in the Western Arctic and which supports the livelihood of Indigenous people as well as critical wildlife habitats, is a shortsighted action that silences the voices of the Alaska Native communities and disregards the overwhelming public support for its protection – support that included over two hundred and fifty thousand comments. “Watching rogue politicians try to destroy America’s system of public lands protection is like watching the movie “Groundhog Day”. They keep trying to sell off America’s natural resources to oil and gas companies and people from all across America keep stopping them. We must remind the rest of Congress once again that support for public lands is both robust, bipartisan and common sense. “Senator Lee’s latest amendment must be rejected to send a strong and lasting signal that America’s public lands are not for sale. We call on Congress to act on behalf of the rights of all Americans to enjoy and have access to public lands by rejecting these appalling attempts to mandate the sale of millions of acres of public land and line the pockets of campaign donors and out-of-state special interests. Public lands must remain in public hands for everyone to enjoy, not just the greedy few.”

Washington, DC – The Trump Administration today announced its intention to dismantle critical protections for 13.3 million acres in the Western Arctic’s National Petroleum Reserve. This alarming action, which initiates a 60-day comment period, comes alongside ongoing threats that Western Arctic drilling provisions could be added back into the budget reconciliation package as it moves to the Senate. Together, these actions demonstrate a clear intent to fast-track the liquidation of public lands while minimizing public scrutiny. Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands and similar protected public lands in the Western Arctic: “Let’s be clear–there is no energy crisis. The U.S. is already the world's largest producer of oil and gas and the oil industry already has the majority of the nation’s most valuable lands for oil and gas development under lease. The administration knows how popular protecting these public lands are, which is why they’re trying to invent a fictional energy crisis and set the public up with a false choice of either protecting the environment or producing more energy. “Allowing development in the country’s largest remaining piece of intact public land, which is in the Western Arctic and which supports the livelihood of Indigenous people as well as critical wildlife habitats, is a shortsighted action that silences the voices of the Alaska Native communities and disregards the overwhelming public support for its protection – support that included over two hundred and fifty thousand comments. “By ignoring established procedures and scientific expertise, this administration is putting at extreme risk the critical habitats for iconic wildlife, from endangered whales and polar bears to the migratory birds that connect this region to all corners of the globe. Removing these safeguards, particularly for areas like Teshekpuk Lake, which is vital for caribou calving and millions of nesting and molting birds while supporting the Iñupiat people for millennia, will inflict profound and lasting damage. “This rollback comes alongside a destructive partisan budget reconciliation push by Congress that would mandate biennial oil and gas sales on at least four million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve, gut key environmental safeguards, and strip judicial oversight, all as an attempt to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and corporations. “This shortsighted pursuit of fossil fuels in a region warming at four times the global average will only accelerate climate chaos, all while failing to deliver meaningful relief at the pump. Instead of more energy development on public lands, the vast majority of Westerners want their elected officials to protect more clean water sources and wildlife habitats, and provide more opportunities to visit and recreate. “Protecting public lands is a political priority for voters from all walks of life and we won’t stand by as the administration touts a fake ‘energy crisis’ to take away these enduring benefits from the American people. We call on the Senate to reject any language that mandates oil lease sales in the Western Arctic, and we urge the American public to participate in the 60-day comment period to voice their opposition to the dismantling of Western Arctic protections.” ### Background on the Western Arctic The Reserve is the largest single unit of public lands in the nation, spanning nearly 23 million acres. It contains vital habitats for wildlife like polar bears, muskox, fish, and millions of migratory birds and their eggs. It is home to three caribou herds, including the 150,000-strong Western Arctic Caribou Herd. Today, more than 40 Indigenous communities continue to rely on sustenance resources within the Reserve. Within the Reserve exist five designated Special Areas covering more than 13 million acres that have significant ecological significance – Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon, and Peard Bay. In late 2020, the Trump administration revised the Reserve’s Integrated Activity Plan, which opened 82% of the Reserve (18.6 million acres) to oil and gas leasing, including in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area. Following a legal challenge by Conservation Lands Foundation and others, the Biden administration overturned these changes to the plan and completed a final rule in 2024 (Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska) following extensive engagement with the public, Alaska Native Tribes, and Alaska Native Corporations. The 2024 rule and guidance for managing the Reserve successfully balances the needs of tribes, local communities, and ecosystems, and ensures maximum protection for significant land, water, and wildlife for 13.3 million acres of Special Areas in the Reserve while supporting subsistence uses and needs for Alaska Native communities. The Trump administration’s current policy is an attempt to revert back to the reckless Reserve policies from 2020 that harm local communities, biodiversity, and cultural values.

Washington, D.C. — Following today’s 48-51 bipartisan vote in the Senate on the Hickenlooper-Heinrich amendment opposing the inclusion of public lands sales to help pay for tax cuts for the wealthy in the federal budget reconciliation package, Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, issued the following statement: “Selling off the country’s national public lands to fund a tax break for the wealthy is an assault on everyone who values their access to the outdoors–regardless of political affiliation. It ignores overwhelming public support for access to their public lands and it’s a direct hit on rural economies that rely on outdoor recreation. “To sacrifice our national legacy and local economies for short-sighted and questionable economic gains for a select few is a betrayal of the American people and locks us out of the places we cherish for their natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and economic contributions. “National public lands are more than just a “balance sheet.” They are a legacy, a source of national pride, and a crucial component of our economic, environmental, and personal well-being. They reflect the will of the American people and decades of advocacy from local communities, families, businesses, elected officials, and Tribal Nations to safeguard these irreplaceable lands from exploitation. And they support a trillion dollar outdoor recreation economy. “We stand with Senators Heinrich, Hickenlooper, and all public lands champions in Congress in urging their colleagues to respect the will of the public to protect these lands and water sources today and for our generations to come.” ####

Washington, DC – Earlier this week, Representative Jeff Hurd (CO-3) introduced legislation that mandates the Bureau of Land Management reissue nine finalized resource management plans for landscapes in Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. These plans fulfill a critical component of the federal land management process and are legally required by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). They represent years of careful consideration, comprehensive environmental review, and public participation from Tribes, outdoor recreation users, scientists, conservation groups, local communities, and industry stakeholders. These management plans play a key role in stewarding public lands, ensuring responsible management for the benefit of all Americans.  Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. “ Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars on delays and creating unnecessary uncertainty, Congress ought to respect the people’s will and stick to the community-informed and well-balanced plans that protect our public lands, support local economies, and provide outdoor recreational opportunities. “Representative Hurd’s bill undermines extensive public input and thorough and transparent environmental assessments–all in the name of a quick and cheap industry giveaway. It’s a complete slap in the face to the majority of voters of all political affiliations in the west who love and enjoy the natural beauty of their state, who are very concerned about efforts to reduce natural areas, and who don’t support selling public lands. This bill is the opposite of what the public wants and needs.” # # # #

Nominee for the Country’s Largest Public Lands Manager Has Track Record of Opposing Public’s Access and Interests  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, upon the announcement of President Trump’s nomination of Kathleen Sgamma as Director of the Bureau of Land Management. The Conservation Lands Foundation represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. “Ms. Sgamma has a track record of opposing the public’s access and interests when it comes to the people’s public lands. She has been a leader in the oil and gas industry, and has testified on their behalf in Congress for decades. “She has filed lawsuits challenging the public’s right to participate in BLM’s decision-making processes, has historically opposed popular, locally-supported protections for public lands, and has demonized people who support conservation and BLM’s multiple use directive. All of this indicates the public simply can’t trust her to listen to communities and implement BLM’s multiple use directive equitably. “Based on our years of work with families, communities, and business leaders to protect the public lands that belong to everyone, we are deeply concerned that Ms. Sgamma will not lead BLM with its multiple-use mission in mind and the result will be no more public lands for people to enjoy.” ####

Washington, D.C. — Today, the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee held a hearing on "Restoring Multiple Use to Revitalize America's Public Lands and Rural Communities,” which spread misinformation in service of an agenda to sell off America's public lands to the wealthy and well-connected – effectively blocking access to regular Americans for hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Chief Conservation Officer of the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to today’s hearing: “Today's House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee revealed that they know America doesn’t face an energy crisis that only public lands can solve. Featured witnesses instead spun up a truth crisis and set the table for the biggest public lands sell off in the country’s history. “By presenting outrageous claims about public lands management and popular conservation tools, they are willfully ignoring three facts: the majority of voters overwhelmingly support protecting natural resources on public lands; the U.S. is already the world's largest producer of oil and gas ; and there’s plenty of public lands available for energy development. The country doesn't have to choose between the environment and the economy, and gutting public land protections won’t lower the cost of groceries.” THE FACTS ABOUT AMERICA'S PUBLIC LANDS: Americans Overwhelmingly Support Conservation: 70% of voters across party lines prioritize protecting natural resources on public lands Public Lands Rule Has Massive Public Support: 92% of public comments submitted to the Bureau of Land Management supported the Public Lands Rule Majority of BLM Lands Already Open for Development: Roughly 85% of BLM lands are currently available for oil and gas development, with nearly half of existing leases not being used Northern Corridor Highway Environmental Impact: Scientific analysis confirms the proposed highway through Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Utah would destroy critical desert tortoise habitat, increase wildfire risk and violate five federal environmental laws Congressional Underfunding Reality: Decades of systematic underfunding by Congress has hampered the Bureau of Land Management’s ability to manage public lands, while Congress criticizes the very problems it created “Members of Congress have a legal and moral obligation to present facts to the American people and to seek meaningful bipartisan solutions for the lands and waters that communities rely on. The Conservation Lands Foundation will continue to advocate for fact-based public land policy that serves all Americans, not just the wealthy few.” ####