National Wildlife Refuges

Update on Public Lands

Update on Public Lands

A year ago this week, War was declared on America’s lands when President Trump signed Executive Order 13792.  This unprecedented action put 26 National Monuments on the chopping block for review and possible reduction in size.  The President had already appointed Ryan Zinke as Interior Department Secretary, and he became the point person for carrying out the executive order.  Over the past year, Secretary Zinke has expanded the war on numerous fronts through his political appointments, his department re-organization fumbling, his shunning of wildlife management and sound science and his devotion to energy conglomerates and large-scale agriculture.