Public Lands News (May 5 - 9)
In this week’s episode, we cover the details of the budget reconciliation package, the agencies and communities affected, and what you can do to help stop these devastating moves before Memorial Day.📢 Outdoor Alliance Action Alert: https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/5/6/public-lands-and-waters-deserve-better-than-reconciliation-packageHave tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9)What's Covered: National Park Service Staff Consolidation: Over 1,600 NPS employees moved under Department of the Interior (DOI) control, stripping the Park Service of independent communications, ranger training, and operations oversight.Midnight Amendment for Public Land Sales: The House Natural Resources Committee fast-tracked an amendment authorizing the sale of hundreds of thousands of acres in Nevada and Utah for tax breaks with no public comment or media notice.Extractive Industries’ Wish List: How the reconciliation bill mandates offshore drilling, mining near the Boundary Waters, timber contracts, and NEPA loopholes to bypass environmental reviews.Park Grants Targeted for Elimination: New York Times report details how the administration plans to cut $26 million in climate, Indigenous cultural, and DEI-focused public land programs.Department of the Interior’s Budget Cuts: A proposed $5.1 billion (30.5%) cut and reorganization granting sweeping powers to DOGE allies.Who Signed Off on the Sale?Bruce Westerman — Arkansas, 4th District (Chairman)Rob Wittman — Virginia, 1st District (Vice Chairman)Tom McClintock — California, 5th DistrictPaul Gosar — Arizona, 9th DistrictAmata Coleman Radewagen — American Samoa, At-largeDoug LaMalfa — California, 1st DistrictDaniel Webster — Florida, 11th DistrictRuss Fulcher — Idaho, 1st DistrictPete Stauber — Minnesota, 8th DistrictTom Tiffany — Wisconsin, 7th DistrictLauren Boebert — Colorado, 4th DistrictCliff Bentz — Oregon, 2nd DistrictJen Kiggans — Virginia, 2nd DistrictWesley Hunt — Texas, 38th DistrictMike Collins — Georgia, 10th DistrictHarriet Hageman — Wyoming, At-largeMark Amodei — Nevada, 2nd DistrictTim Walberg — Michigan, 5th DistrictMike Ezell — Mississippi, 4th DistrictCeleste Maloy — Utah, 2nd DistrictAddison McDowell — North Carolina, 6th DistrictJeff Crank — Colorado, 5th DistrictNick Begich — Alaska, At-largeMike Kennedy — Utah, 3rd DistrictAdam Gray — California, 13th DistrictEpisode Sources: Resistance Rangers Press Release - https://www.resistancerangers.org/press/hundreds-of-rangers-consolidated-to-doi-nps-communications-now-under-doge-oversightNew York Times: NPS Grant Cuts Report - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/07/climate/trump-park-service-grants-cuts.htmlBLM Public Comment Portal for September Lease Sale - https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2036690/510Full Amendment Text and Bill Docs - https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/amodei-amendment-NVUT-Land-Sales.pdf