Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** A month into shutdown, Interior has approved over 600 drilling permits
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Wednesday, November 5, 2025
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (left) on his current overseas trip to the UAE. Source: @SecretaryBurgum ([link removed])
As the federal government shutdown enters its second month, the Interior department continues to issue oil and gas drilling permits at a rapid clip ([link removed]) , even as tens of thousands of its employees remain furloughed and unpaid.
The Center for Western Priorities is monitoring oil and gas permit and lease activity daily on our Oil and Gas Government Shutdown Tracker ([link removed]) . As of Tuesday, November 4th, the Bureau of Land Management had issued more than 600 new permits to drill ([link removed]) (APDs) on public lands since the shutdown began on October 1. During that time, the BLM issued more than 19 permits per day, which amounts to more than 3 approvals for every workday hour in the month. The Interior department has also issued 37 new public land leases to oil and gas companies during the shutdown.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum sent a message ([link removed]) to employees last Friday, hours before he boarded a plane for the United Arab Emirates ([link removed]) , telling them “your absence is felt—not just in operations, but in spirit.” Burgum’s email did not acknowledge his attempt to fire thousands of Interior department employees ([link removed]) during the shutdown, which has been temporarily suspended ([link removed]) while the shutdown continues. “There aren’t any American public lands in Abu Dhabi. Doug Burgum should stop trying to pretend he’s a diplomat and come home to do his job,” said
([link removed]) Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss. The Interior department has not said how it is paying ([link removed]) for Burgum’s travel during the lapse in congressional funding.
** Quick hits
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum faces scrutiny for travel amid shutdown
New York Times ([link removed])
Comment period extended for Wyoming's Rock Springs Resource Management Plan
Wyoming Public Media ([link removed]) | WyoFile ([link removed])
Interior freezes layoff plans while shutdown persists
E&E News ([link removed])
Western states brace for a uranium boom as the industry tries to recharge itself
Inside Climate News ([link removed])
Secretary Burgum sends message to furloughed Interior department staff amid pending layoff plans
E&E News ([link removed])
Colorado's Arkansas River reflects a complex history of both Western expansion and Indigenous displacement
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Despite the Trump administration's enthusiasm, oil companies show little interest in drilling in Alaska
Grist ([link removed])
Opinion: Repealing the Public Lands Rule kills Nevada's economy
Reno Gazette Journal ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Interior’s own numbers tell the story: while tens of thousands of park rangers and land managers are furloughed, Doug Burgum is greenlighting oil and gas drilling at a rapid pace. That’s exploitation of our public lands, not stewardship.”
—Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@goldengatecanyoncpw ([link removed])
Helping people feel comfortable and confident in the outdoors is one of the many things we love to do at our job. 🥰
Last week we hosted a women's backpacking 101 course where our staff was able to teach novice backpackers some tips and tricks on how to have a safe and successful trip. Learning about safety, how to pack a bag properly, to practicing the 7 Leave No Trace Principles in the backcountry, all the participants left the course feeling ready to take on a new adventure and hobby!
Even though the season is winding down for programs like this, we hope to continue doing things like this next summer so keep your eyes out!
We want to give a huge shoutout to our course sponsors who helped made this trip a huge success.
@pactoutdoors ([link removed]) @kulacloth ([link removed]) @alpinestartfoods ([link removed]) @farmtosummit ([link removed])
📸:CPW/ Park Naturalist Kayla
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