Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** “Doug the diva” requests freshly baked cookies from DOI staff
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Monday, April 7, 2025
Doug Burgum, Interior secretary; Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is making strange requests of Interior department staff, according to reporting in The Atlantic ([link removed]) . Burgum has requested political appointees in his office learn to regularly bake cookies for him using industrial ovens in the department. He has also made political appointees act as servers for a multi-course meal, used a U.S. Park Police helicopter for personal transportation, and, on at least one occasion, requested staff remake a batch of cookies he deemed “subpar,” according to three people ([link removed]) . One person familiar with the behavior described Burgum as “Doug the diva.”
Senate clears path for public land sell-off
The U.S. Senate voted to reject ([link removed]) an amendment that would have prevented the sale of national public lands by Congress, opening the door to the privatization of public lands and forests. The amendment was introduced as part of a voting session ([link removed]) on President Donald Trump's budget plan that stretched from Friday night into early Saturday morning.
Senators Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and John Hickenlooper of Colorado introduced the amendment in response to reports of lawmakers' tentative plans ([link removed]) to sell federal land in the West in order to offset deficits incurred by Trump's tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. The amendment failed 48 to 51 ([link removed]) . Senators Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, both of Montana, joined other pro-public lands lawmakers in voting for the amendment.
“Westerners know our forests, national parks, and public lands are priceless,” Hickenlooper said in a press release ([link removed]) Friday. “Some Republicans want to sell them off to bankroll tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. Our public lands are not – and should not be – for sale.”
** Quick hits
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Trump administration orders half of national forests open for logging
Washington Post ([link removed])
Senate rejects amendment preventing public land sell off
SF Gate ([link removed]) | National Parks Traveler ([link removed])
Trump planning to use NREL land near Boulder for private AI data center and power plant
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Evacuation order issued in Weld County due to oil and gas spill
9News ([link removed])
Burgum orders national parks to be open and accessible, despite staffing shortages
Associated Press ([link removed]) | Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) | National Parks Traveler ([link removed])
Amid anti-DEI push, National Park Service rewrites history of Underground Railroad
Washington Post ([link removed])
Lauren Boebert reintroduces bill seeking to remove wolves from endangered species list
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
World’s largest wildlife crossing takes shape in Los Angeles
The Guardian ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Public lands belong to all Americans, not wealthy donors and corporate executives... Selling off these places to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy should have been dead on arrival, and it’s shameful that the Senate has failed to stand up against that idea. We applaud the senators who voted to support public lands, and we call on them to convince their colleagues to reject any final budget bill that includes the sell-off of public lands.”
—Tracy Stone-Manning ([link removed]) , president of the Wilderness Society
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
These red fox kits were spotted mid-wrestle, pausing for what looks like a heart-melting hug at @sanjuanislandnhp ([link removed]) . Play is a huge part of how young foxes learn to hunt, communicate and bond.
Photo by Autumn Schrock
Alt Text: Two red fox kits with black legs and ear tips are wresting in the grass.
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