Our Public Lands are in Danger

What is more American than our national parks and public lands? From Yellowstone’s famous geysers to Acadia’s rocky headlands, national parks are a part of our national identity. Our federal lands provide clean air and water, regulate the climate, preserve vulnerable ecosystems, and hold deep cultural and historical significance for Indigenous communities. Public access to these federal lands is essential for education, recreation, job opportunities, and the promotion of environmental stewardship. Yet in just the first two months of President Trump’s second term, his administration has weakened environmental protections and rolled back conservation efforts that have safeguarded federal lands for generations. 

Trump is predominantly targeting lands in the Southwest of the country. Alaska is also in his crosshairs, including the Arctic National Wildlife refuge, which is one of the last untouched ecosystems in the U.S, according to a map released by the Wilderness Society. Since day one, Trump has been touting an “Energy Dominance” agenda that promotes the drilling, mining, and logging of federal land. These areas often act as large carbon sinks, containing natural reservoirs like plants, soil, and fossil fuels that store and absorb more carbon than they release. With the proposed exploitation of the lands’ resources comes the increased threat of air pollution. The extraction of fossil fuels in public lands already makes up 25 percent of our nation’s total climate emissions, and further action would only increase the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Within public lands are 5,000 miles of streams, rivers, and watersheds that supply water for 2.4 million people and 1.2 million acres worth of wildlife migration corridors. Mining can release acidic compounds that are detrimental to the environment, and abandoned subsurface mines can contribute to nonpoint source pollutants in contaminated ground and surface water. Climate change is not the only thing harmed by the misuse of federal lands—necessities such as clean drinking water are also negatively impacted.

Additionally, national parks are great contributors to rural economies, generating more than 400,000 jobs in recent years and 26.4 billion in spending in neighboring areas. They also provide outdoor space for recreation like hiking or camping, as well as environmental and conservation education programs. Under Trump’s leadership, national parks will be unable to serve their communities as well as they do now. 

The significance of Trump’s policies further extends to Indigenous communities, who are among the most affected by the exploitation of public lands. All federal land and National Parks exist on historically Indigenous territory. After the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which authorized the forced displacement of tribes east of the Mississippi, thousands were compelled onto reservations to clear the way for U.S. western expansion. In 2025, Indigenous communities still face many challenges and are denied many rights. Just a few years prior, those communities’ access to clean water and land was threatened by developments such as the KXL oil pipeline. Luckily, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe filed lawsuits that led to the project’s termination, but this violation of Indigenous rights is only one instance of oil industries and our government placing profit before people. Under this Trump administration, oil industries will only gain more power.

As Trump continues his purge of federal agencies, including the National Forest Service and the National Science Foundation, he is also filling top government positions with oil and gas insiders. Industry giants have always been influential in Washington and affected the way we make decisions regarding our environment. However, billionaires and corporate executives are actively running the agencies that are supposed to protect our public lands, waters, and wildlife. Many of the cabinet officials who have been nominated so far are favored by energy tycoons such as billionaire Harold Hamm, who helped organize a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser where Trump reportedly told industry executives to raise one billion dollars for his campaign in exchange for the deregulation of environmental policies. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has deep ties to the fossil fuel industry and was personally backed by Hamm. In Senate hearings, Burgum has stated that he views America’s public lands as merely a  “balance sheet.” Along with the President’s plans to use the “God Squad,” a committee led by Burgum that can approve projects otherwise considered unconstitutional under the Endangered Species Act, the Trump Administration has the ability to seriously harm our endangered wildlife and the environment. Trump has also chosen Kathleen Sgamma to lead the Bureau of Land Management, which is devastating news for the 245 million acres of public lands in the bureau’s care. Sgamma is currently the president of the industry group Western Energy Alliance and advocates for the oil and gas industry in 13 intermountain states. She has frequently sued the government in the past to advance the company’s prospects. The influence of these leaders in our government is increasing and demonstrates a shift towards prioritizing short-term economic progress in the name of corporate greed. 

If this trend continues, America’s public lands could face irreversible damage or even outright privatization. The idea of selling off federal lands is not new, but it has gained momentum with Trump’s allies, including Senator Mike Lee and billionaire and Senior Advisor Elon Musk. They have proposed auctioning off federal land to private buyers. Among the justifications for this are claims that public lands are “unprofitable.” The devaluation of federal lands isn’t only a recent issue. During Trump’s first term, due to the House of Representatives making a change in rules in 2017, Congressman Jason Chaffetz was able to turn over 3.3 million acres of land that he said have “been deemed to serve no purpose for taxpayers” to western states. Transferring federal land to a state signifies a definite shift in priority from preservation of land to generating revenue for beneficiaries. State trust lands have limited public access compared to federal lands, requiring users to pay fees to access them. Even then, public access is usually only allowed on land that has not been leased for another purpose, which can be rare since state land is often aggressively developed and sold to return a higher profit. Historically, 70 percent of public lands given to states have been sold and privatized. This isn’t just a policy shift—it’s a threat to the conservation of habitats and the sustainability of resources.

By framing these areas as “underutilized” or “unprofitable,” the administration garners support for policies that promote harmful resource extraction and the deterioration of the very lands that preserve the Earth’s biodiversity, Indigenous cultures, and water sources. This is a reflection of a societal shift towards private corporations increasingly dictating our community interests and policies. As they gain more control, they fortify a system where wealth determines access to land and clean water rather than treating land and waters as basic human necessities. To push back against this shift, citizens must be educated on the importance of public lands beyond their industrial value. There is also a growing case for returning stewardship of some of these lands to Indigenous communities, who would ensure that the lands are cared for using natural laws; that food production in these areas is localized; and that public recreation and usage is regulated in a way that protects ecosystems. Supporting the Landback Movement—which fights against the privatization and misuse of public lands—by volunteering or contributing donations is one way to oppose the growing power of oil and gas industries over these lands. Standing with organizations such as the Sierra Club and the National Park Foundation during this time of governmental opposition and mass layoffs is also essential to restoring them. As for future presidential administrations, restoring the Antiquities Act that protects national monuments as well as increasing funding for government services that promote conservation and land management, such as the National Forest Service, would be significant steps in the right direction. Without these efforts, America risks losing its natural heritage, vital ecosystems, and water resources that public lands sustain.