Trump to Ease Sage Grouse Protections on Western Lands

The Associated Press recently reported President Trump's plans to roll back essential protections for sage grouse. The plans are set to ease drilling and mining rules in greater sage grouse habitat and across several states of pristine public lands. Following Trump's lame duck attack on public lands, Western Values Project director Jayson O'Neill issued the following statement:

"Anti-public lands members of Congress seem to only be worried about pushing through harmful legislation during the lame duck session, instead of battling the pandemic. Meanwhile, Trump and his corrupt associates at Interior are trying to ram through as many special interests favors as they can before they leave office. The detrimental impacts of these favors are bound to harm our wildlife and public lands in the West for years to come."

In addition to gutting the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the administration is still trying to push through several major rollbacks and rule changes during the lame duck session that would undermine wildlife protections and exploit public lands.

Through these eleventh hour moves, Trump continues to solidify his legacy as the worst public lands and environmental administration in history. Healthy sage grouse habitat contributes over one billion dollars in economic activity from outdoor recreation in rural areas.