Trump officials cancel rule that made conservation a ‘use’ of public lands
Summary
The Interior Department under President Donald Trump is canceling a 2024 rule that allowed conservation efforts to be treated the same as development on public lands. The Trump administration aims to make it easier for industries like oil drilling, logging, mining, and cattle grazing to operate on government-owned land.Key Facts
- The canceled rule was created during President Biden’s administration to promote conservation as equally important as development on public lands.
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oversees about 10% of U.S. land, mostly in western states.
- Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the rule could have blocked access to land needed for energy, timber, and grazing.
- Environmental groups say removing the rule reduces protections for clean water, wildlife habitat, and land restoration.
- Industry groups and Republicans opposed the rule, saying it conflicted with the "multiple use" mandate that encourages development.
- The repeal will take effect 30 days after being published in the Federal Register.
- President Trump’s administration is also undoing other land protections from the Biden era and prioritizing fossil fuel production on public lands.
- The BLM manages not just surface land but also underground minerals like coal and lithium across a large portion of the U.S.
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