Stop the Administration from Stripping Access to Our Public Lands

In April 2025, Secretary Doug Burgum transferred 109,000 acres of New Mexico public land to the U.S. Army, and the Navy took control of land blocking access to the Pacific Crest Trail in California. These transfers happened without public input and now require military permits, background checks, and escorts for hikers to access trails that belong to all Americans. Congress must reverse the transfer of federal lands to the Department of Defense and investigate whether these transfers are legal. In addition, DHS has used the REAL ID Act to waive the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and dozens of other laws protecting our environment and cultural heritage on the federal lands. This is the largest waiver of federal law in American history. Congress needs to remove DHS authority to override state and federal environmental protections. Now 2 destructive bills have been introduced, the Border Lands Conservation Act and the FLASH Act, that would override Wilderness Act protections and let DHS build roads, bases, and surveillance systems in protected wilderness within 100 miles of both borders. That covers enormous swaths of public land that Americans use and enjoy and that local economies depend on for tourism. Border security does not require sacrificing public lands or criminalizing hikers, hunters and scientists with federal trespassing charges carrying up to a year in prison and $100,000 fines. Oppose these bills and defend our access to heathy and intact public lands! Congress must investigate the transfer of lands, force agencies to follow all environmental laws, protect ecosystems, and protect our access to our public lands!