1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

Halt the U.S. Forest Service's wild horse roundup near Mono Lake immediately and direct the agency to engage in genuine co-management planning with the Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe and other affected Native nations. This operation is happening right now, on ancestral and sacred land, and every day it continues causes irreversible harm. As of July 17, 354 horses have already been removed by low-flying helicopters contracted to C.D. Warner Livestock LLC — a Utah company with no connection to this land or its people. Tribal members, including Utu Utu Gwaitu Paiute Tribe Chairman Shane Saulque and Vice Chairwoman Rana Saulque, have explicitly requested a two-year delay to implement non-lethal fertility management alternatives like immunocontraception. The Forest Service has not responded to that request. Tribal historic preservation officer Ronda Kauk has documented damage to sacred sites, burial grounds, and cultural objects caused by this operation. A lawsuit filed by tribal leaders remains active in court. The tribes aren't asking for the horses to be unmanaged. They're asking for a seat at the table before irreplaceable cultural heritage is destroyed. Direct the Forest Service to suspend this roundup and enter meaningful consultation with tribal governments before removing a single additional horse.