The Trump administration has repealed the 2024 Public Lands Rule, which balanced conservation and industry access on nearly 10% of U.S. public lands. This change affects leases including those that allowed American bison to graze on federal lands, stirring controversy among conservation groups and Native communities.
- Reversal favors industry use over conservation on public lands
- American bison grazing permits in Montana revoked
- Indigenous groups express concern over impacts on cultural heritage
What happened
In 2026, the Trump administration overturned the 2024 Public Lands Rule, a regulation that had required the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to give equal priority to conservation alongside industrial uses on about 245 million acres of public land. This rule had opened pathways for new conservation efforts on these lands, including restoration leases and mitigation provisions.
The repeal means that leases for grazing, mining, and energy development will now take precedence without the same obligations to protect or restore natural habitats. A notable consequence is the termination of permits allowing nearly 950 American bison to graze on 63,000 acres of Montana federal land, a program that began in 2022 as part of a growing effort to bring bison back to their historic range.
Why it feels good
For advocates of ranching and conventional resource use, the repeal restores access to productive uses of public lands that had been perceived as restricted under the conservation-focused rule. The Department of the Interior argued that leasing public lands primarily supports animals raised for products like meat and milk, and viewed the bison grazing permits as outside traditional legal allowances.
Some stakeholders appreciate the clarity and prioritization of established grazing laws, viewing this shift as a way to remove regulatory uncertainty and protect livelihoods linked to ranching and energy sectors. This aligns with long-standing federal policies that focus on multiple use and sustained yield principles for public lands, prioritizing economic productivity.
What to enjoy or watch next
Native American groups and environmental organizations are closely watching how this new policy affects wildlife conservation and tribal rights. Bison are deeply significant to many Indigenous peoples spiritually and historically, making the removal of grazing permits not just a conservation issue but one tied to cultural heritage and self-determination.
Legal challenges are underway to contest the revocation of bison grazing permits, with the Montana-based nonprofit American Prairie seeking a preliminary injunction to keep their herds on public lands. The outcome of this litigation will shape future public land management approaches, conservation strategies, and the role of Indigenous stewardship on federal lands.