Look West: Groups decry tight deadline to oppose removing protections for Chaco https://mailchi.mp/westernpriorities.org/look-west-3n4wdwu7ik?e=18359af333

This story was long-coming, and I learned so much from the experts who offered their time to talk about the ins and outs of America's bedrock environmental law, and to envision what revitalizing NEPA would require. Thanks to @prospect.org for including in their April issue alongside the very best.

Some news from the CWP team- Jennifer Rokala, CWP's Executive Director of 11 years, will be stepping down. Jen's invaluable leadership will be deeply missed, but we are excited for the next chapter of CWP as Deputy Director Aaron Weiss steps into the role of Executive Director!

Ahead of what is predicted to be a dangerous wildfire season, the Trump Administration gutted the Forest Service by closing its regional headquarters along with most research facilities and experimental forests. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/QDMl4y

Look West: Trump admin to open New Mexico's Pecos River watershed to mining

New Westwise post! Sneak and peek: How the Trump administration and Congress are quietly expanding the footprint of mining on public lands—without telling the public

Look West: Thousands protest against border wall through Texas parks https://mailchi.mp/westernpriorities.org/look-west-zwykamzfdy Subscribe for daily public lands news: https://westernpriorities.org/category/look-west/

STATEMENT: FY2027 budget proposes 12.9% spending cut at Interior department "This budget tells the people who do that work and live in the West that things are only going to get worse." —CWP Deputy Director Aaron Weiss

What the off-road community stands to lose on public lands We’re joined by Jonathon Klein, Editor-in-Chief of RideApart, to discuss the real threats to access to public lands for motorized vehicle users. Listen to The Landscape: 📺 youtu.be/XlX8DhJdqfM 🎙️ Wherever you get your podcasts!

71% of New Mexico voters are opposed to removing current protections for Chaco Culture National Historical Park www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2026/04/upda...

Last night, we shined a light on Doug Burgum’s God complex. We projected this message onto the facade of Interior to call out Burgum’s anti-American censorship, and his anti-science scheme to circumvent the Endangered Species Act on behalf of Big Oil. https://bit.ly/4tjOh0n

"I’m a little bit afraid that if this effort doesn’t get turned around … the next step … would be to actually think about deauthorizing some of those areas themselves." — Bill Wade, Association of National Park Rangers www.sfgate.com/national-par...

Check out the latest from our Westwise blog on substack: westwise.substack.com/p/mission-cr...

Steve Pearce, the White House’s second oil and gas-connected pick, is “not so sure” he’s changed.

"Doug Burgum is becoming the 'Where's Waldo' of the administration. Where is he on these important energy issues?" Even the energy industry is annoyed at @secretaryburgum.bsky.social

Park rangers across the country have been waiting months for clear guidance on which historical exhibits to change—and getting almost none. Reporting from Heather Richards @eenews.bsky.social www.eenews.net/articles/ins...

A unique aerial measurement campaign found that emission inventories compiled by energy companies to account for planet-warming methane leaking from equipment on Colorado oil and gas production sites undercount such pollutants by at least two times. From @capitalandmain.bsky.social

STATEMENT on Steve Pearce’s BLM confirmation hearing westernpriorities.org/2026/02/stat... The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Deputy Director Aaron Weiss:

🚨 PEARCE HEARING IS TOMORROW 🚨He doesn’t love our public lands. He wants them gone. westwise.substack.com/p/seven-time...

New analysis from CAP and Justice Outside reveals persistent inequality in nearby nature in the U.S. Communities of color are 3x more likely than white communities to live in nature-deprived areas, and three-quarters of residents of these areas have low household incomes. https://ampr.gs/4qOl8ZD

The Trump administration's bad faith focus on relatively small clean energy subsidies hides the actual impact of its policies that tilt the playing field in favor of fossil fuels. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/5-hidden-ways-the-government-rigs-the-market-in-favor-of-fossil-fuels/

San Luis Valley case challenging buffer zone around billionaire landowner’s new house wraps up in Costilla County

Large, bipartisan majorities of voters across eight Western states remain concerned about the impacts of climate change and opposed to efforts by the Trump administration to weaken environmental rules and public lands protections. By @chasewoodruff.bsky.social

Lake Powell forecast to reach critical lows, threatening hydropower generation

Despite claims to the contrary, fossil fuels have received far more subsidies from the federal government than renewables—since 1918: $549 billion, nearly 3x what renewables have received. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/5-hidden-ways-the-government-rigs-the-market-in-favor-of-fossil-fuels/

"An agency, whether the Department of the Interior, NPS, or any other agency, cannot arbitrarily decide what is true, based on its own whims or the whims of the new leadership, regardless of the evidence before it." www.cnn.com/2026/02/16/p...

Look West: Teddy Roosevelt’s descendants call on Congress to protect public lands mailchi.mp/westernprior...

"CO2 was never a pollutant. When we breathe we emit CO2." @secretaryburgum.bsky.social has gone full on climate denier

Nuclear waste storage bill dies. Freedom Caucus-backed measure would have banned nuclear fuel waste storage in Wyoming unless approved by voters on a case-by-case basis. - @WyoFile wyofile.com/nuclear-wast...

Powerful words from Rep Clyburn at this morning's hearing on the Trump administration's attempts to wipe history from our national parks and #publiclands. #Freedom250

Check out @repdexteror.bsky.social calling out Trump for his Freedom250 grift in a House Nat Resources committee hearing this AM 🔥

Check out @rephuffman.bsky.social scolding Republicans this morning at a hearing on Trump's Freedom250 campaign for bowing down to the president as he bullies America and uses his position to enrich himself and his friends 🔥 #Freedom250

“Ironically, by upending precedent in this way, Congress has unleashed regulatory uncertainty on America’s public lands—threatening both conservation & recreation as well as the industrial interests prioritized by President Trump.” — CWP's Kate Groetzinger for the Gunnison Times #publiclands

REPORTER MEMO: Seismic shift in public land management across the West Congress is abusing the Congressional Review Act to throw out land management plans and tie the hands of land managers in perpetuity. Learn more: westernpriorities.org/2026/01/repo... #publiclands

Look West: BLM approves four-lane highway through critical habitat in Utah mailchi.mp/westernprior... #publiclands

Today, Congress sent a letter to the Interior dept raising major concerns about Karen Budd-Falen, whose husband made $3.5 million off a mine permitted by Interior when Budd-Falen was a top official there. Here's our statement: westernpriorities.org/2026/01/stat...

Trump has implemented, or begun to implement, over 80% of Project 2025's directives on #publiclands. See the data in our new report. westernpriorities.org/2026/01/from...

We just released a new report documenting how the Trump admin has implemented Project 2025, a radical right-wing policy plan that Trump once called "ridiculous", on our nation's public lands. Over 80% of P2025's #publiclands recs are done or in motion. westernpriorities.org/2026/01/from...

Look West: Alaska seeks control of federally-protected lakes and rivers mailchi.mp/westernprior...

Science is essential to managing wildlife populations, but there are limits to what we know. buff.ly/2IdWmOt

Look West: Top Interior official faces corruption allegations over Thacker Pass water deal mailchi.mp/westernprior...

Mike Lee is once again trying to sell off your #publiclands learn more about his latest attempt in our statement: westernpriorities.org/2025/12/stat...

Big Methane Mad Man TY! to Kate & Aaron of @westernpriorities.org for inviting us all on the Landscape to talk abt oil & gas' devastating impacts in New Mexico... thanks for giving us all a chance to speak the truth on behalf of frontline families everywhere. westernpriorities.org/2025/12/the-...

If it walks like a duck…  Steve Pearce has advocated for selling off our public lands. He should be nowhere near the Bureau of Land Management, the agency that oversees our federal lands. www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/12/04/c...

Just found out it's National Cookie Day... 🍪 Happy National Cookie Day to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum aka Secretary Cookies! Did you make your staff bake you fresh cookies today? www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

"Designating these minerals as ‘critical’ paves the way for land use and permitting decisions that will negatively impact Western public lands and wildlife habitats for decades to come." Read more from our blog, Westwise, now on Substack. #publiclands

"Do Western senators really care about keeping public lands in public hands? Steve Pearce, President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Bureau of Land Management, is a litmus test of their commitment." — CWP Deputy Director Aaron Weiss, @denverpost.com

Look West: Parks crawl back online after shutdown mailchi.mp/westernprior...

"Over his six years [as NM Republican Party chair], Pearce alienated moderates, purged reformers and lost credibility with donors." — Southwest Public Policy Intitute Director Patrick M. Brenner #publiclands #stevepearce

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