FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sally Paez, Staff Attorney, (505) 350-0664, sally@nmwild.org
Sally Paez, Staff Attorney, (505) 350-0664, sally@nmwild.org
Bjorn Fredrickson, Conservation Director, (206) 372-5608, bjorn@nmwild.org
New Mexico Wild Denounces Trump Administration’s Attack on
Public Lands Protections
Interior Secretary’s proposal to rescind Public Lands Rule threatens 13.5 million acres of New Mexico’s treasured landscapes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (September 11, 2025) — New Mexico Wild today condemned the Trump Administration’s announcement that it plans to rescind the Public Lands Rule, which put conservation on equal footing with extraction on Bureau of Land Management lands.
The rule, finalized in April 2024, allowed public land to be leased for restoration in the same way oil companies lease land for drilling. It finally put conservation on an equal footing as part of BLM’s multiple use mandate, which has historically been dominated by extractive and consumptive uses. New Mexico has 13.5 million acres of BLM-managed public lands that would be affected by the rule’s elimination.
“New Mexico’s 13.5 million acres of BLM-managed public lands are irreplaceable treasures that define the unique character of our state,” said Sally Paez, staff attorney for New Mexico Wild. “Unfortunately, unbalanced management of some of these lands has destroyed essential resources like clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and resilient ecosystems. The Public Lands Rule is wildly popular because it established a framework for allowing future generations to enjoy our shared natural and cultural heritage.”
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s proposal will trigger a 60-day public comment period. Industry and agriculture groups had lobbied Republicans to reverse the Biden-era rule.
“Today’s action is offensive to the vast majority of Americans who care about our public lands,” Paez added. “We will continue to advocate for this common-sense rule.”
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