Photo by Eric Philips

Hut trip vibes were an especially appreciated recharge this month, given the challenges facing public lands conservation these days. Public lands and outdoor recreation face unprecedented uncertainty. Here’s some of what’s happening:

Uncertainty and Anxiety

Federal Workforce Cuts 

There is a strong undercurrent of anxiety and uncertainty over what will become of the federal agencies who steward our public lands, manage and support outdoor recreation, and conduct science critical to understanding the natural world in the face of the Administration’s efforts to drastically shrink and remake the federal workforce.

One spot of bright news has been that many federal employees were reinstated after multiple courts ruled that the mass-firing of probationary employees was illegal. However, we fully expect many of these workers, and more, to be laid off again when the agencies complete White House-mandated Reduction in Force initiatives. 

In related news, you may have heard that the Park Service has authority to hire hundreds of seasonal employees. While that’s good news for the National Parks (assuming the agency is actually able to get people hired before summer), the Forest Service hiring freeze remains in place.

With agency capacity severely limited, Ambassador programs like WWA’s Winter Ambassador program in California are playing a key role in sustainable recreation management through visitor education.  

Public Lands Funding

Funding for public lands is also uncertain. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) March 14, funding the government for FY25. However, unlike most (all?) past CRs, this bill did not include specific line items for various agency programs. This means it’s unclear how much money is available for recreation management, land management planning, conservation programs, research, etc. across each agency. If you want to dive in, compare the recent CR with the March 2024 appropriations bill it is based upon. 

We’re hearing from Congressional offices that they are hearing loud and clear that their constituents are unhappy with the staffing cuts the Administration has taken. We need to keep the pressure on. Use this form to quickly and easily send a letter to your representatives! Next, share the link with your friends and family. Encourage your community to send letters to Congress in support of public lands. 

Environmental Laws and Public Land Protections Under Attack

National Environmental Policy Act:

In late February the White House moved to significantly weaken the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by eliminating the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. For decades, CEQ’s NEPA regulations have provided direction for how the environmental impact analyses required by NEPA should take place, regardless of agency.

Without CEQ NEPA regulations, we anticipate reduced government transparency, reduced opportunities for public participation in government decision-making, and more delays and inefficiencies. Read more on our blog.

Public Lands Opened to Mining

On March 20, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production,” putting all public lands, including protected areas, at immediate risk of mining. The Order fast-tracks domestic mining on federal lands, citing that mining should be the primary purpose of these lands. The Order also significantly broadens the list of “critical minerals” and enacts the Cold War-era Defense Production Act (DPA), which would subsidize companies that already mine hardrock minerals without paying royalties. This Order puts the Boundary Waters and many other special places in the crosshairs.  

Ambler Road Controversy

The Department of the Interior recently issued a press release stating the Department’s intentions to pave the way for the Ambler Road in Alaska, a 2024 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decision to deny permits for the Ambler Road. Specifically, Interior intends to pursue actions that would allow for transfers of key federal parcels of land along the road corridor to the State of Alaska. 

This move threatens the wilderness of the Brooks Range including the communities and wildlife that rely on it. We will continue to defend the Brooks Range, so stay tuned for opportunities to take action!