BILLINGS, Mont. – The U.S. Interior Department has decided to cancel a rule that aimed to balance conservation efforts with development activities. This change comes as the administration under President Donald Trump works to reduce regulations on industries such as drilling, logging, mining, and grazing on public lands owned by taxpayers.
The rule that is being scrapped was put in place during former President Joe Biden’s administration in 2024. It was designed to redirect the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which manages about 10% of U.S. land, towards more conservation-friendly policies. The intention was to allow lands to be leased for restoration projects similarly to how oil companies lease land for drilling.
However, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum expressed concerns that this rule could limit access to hundreds of thousands of acres of land. He argued that it would hinder energy production, timber harvesting, and grazing operations for ranchers who rely on public lands.
Supporters of the original rule believed that conservation had often taken a backseat at the Bureau of Land Management. Under the Federal Lands Policy Management Act of 1976, conservation should be a priority. While the BLM had previously offered leases for conservation on a limited basis, the Biden administration was the first to establish a dedicated program for this purpose.
Bobby McEnaney from the Natural Resources Defense Council criticized the repeal of the conservation rule, stating, “This means less protection for clean drinking water, less protection for endangered wildlife that depend on healthy habitats, and less accountability when corporations leave these landscapes damaged and degraded.”
Documents released by the administration indicated that the original rule exceeded the BLM’s authority by allowing outside parties to acquire conservation leases. Industry groups, alongside their Republican allies in Congress, opposed the rule and argued that it disrupted the “multiple use” mandate that governs the use of federal lands by prioritizing restoration over other uses.
Dan Naatz, representing the Independent Petroleum Association of America, welcomed the repeal, noting that it provides “greater clarity and predictability for independent oil and natural gas producers,” who depend on consistent permitting and leasing processes for effective operations and investments in domestic energy supply.
The federal government holds vast land resources primarily in Western states such as Alaska, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Since taking office, Trump’s administration has taken several actions to encourage fossil fuel production from these public lands while also working to limit some renewable energy projects, arguing that they received unfair subsidies under Biden.
The repeal of the conservation rule is set to take effect 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register, which was expected to occur on Tuesday. This action follows recent congressional moves to cancel land management plans established during the final days of Biden’s presidency that restricted development in extensive areas of Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota.
In addition to managing surface lands, the Bureau of Land Management also oversees underground mineral reserves, including coal and lithium, across over 1 million square miles (approximately 2.5 million square kilometers). Historically, the bureau has favored industry-friendly policies and has been involved in selling grazing permits and oil and gas leases for more than a century.
