The Interior Department has canceled a rule that placed conservation on equal footing with development on public lands, as the Trump administration seeks to boost drilling, logging, mining, and grazing on taxpayer-owned property.
Background of the 2024 Rule
The rule, adopted under former President Joe Biden in 2024, aimed to refocus the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which oversees about 10% of U.S. land. It allowed public property to be leased for restoration, similar to how oil companies lease land for drilling.
Interior Secretary's Concerns
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum argued the rule could block access to hundreds of thousands of acres, hindering energy and timber production and harming ranchers who graze on public lands.
Supporters' Defense
Supporters contended that conservation had long been a secondary priority for the BLM, neglecting its mission under the 1976 Federal Lands Policy Management Act. Prior to the Biden administration, the bureau issued conservation leases only in limited cases without a dedicated program.
Bobby McEnaney of the Natural Resources Defense Council stated that repealing the rule “means less protection for clean drinking water, less protection for endangered wildlife that depend on healthy habitat, and less accountability when corporations leave these landscapes damaged and degraded.”
Administration's Rationale
In documents released Monday, administration officials said the rule exceeded the BLM's authority by allowing outside parties to obtain conservation leases.
Industry and Republican Opposition
Industry groups and Republican allies in Congress strongly opposed the rule and lobbied for its repeal. They argued the change violated the “multiple use” mandate for Interior Department lands by elevating the “non-use” of federal lands—restoration leases—to prominence.
Dan Naatz of the Independent Petroleum Association of America praised the repeal, saying it “provides greater clarity and predictability for independent oil and natural gas producers.”
Impact on Western States
The federal government's vast land holdings are concentrated in western states including Alaska, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The Trump administration has pursued actions to boost fossil fuel production on these sites and sidelined some renewable energy projects.
Effective Date
The repeal takes effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, scheduled for Tuesday.
This move follows recent cancellations by Republicans in Congress of land management plans adopted under Biden that restricted development in large areas of Alaska, Montana, and North Dakota.
Beyond surface lands, the BLM regulates publicly owned underground mineral reserves—such as coal and lithium—across more than 1 million square miles. The bureau has a history of industry-friendly policies, selling grazing permits and oil and gas leases for over a century.
