Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Trump’s new pick to run the BLM has a history of working to sell off public land
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Thursday, November 13, 2025
2018 political ad attacking Steve Pearce’s land sell-off record, archived in CWP’s How Public Lands Won the West ([link removed]) comp reel
Steve Pearce, President Donald Trump's nominee ([link removed]) to lead the Bureau of Land Management, has an alarming anti-public lands record. Anew Westwise blog post ([link removed]) from the Center for Western Priorities breaks down Pearce's record as a vocal supporter of attempts to sell off and privatize public land, gut the Antiquities Act, prioritize oil and gas drilling, and weaken the Endangered Species Act.
During his tenure in Congress, Representative Pearce earned his anti-public lands reputation ([link removed]) by cosponsoring legislation ([link removed]) to privatize public lands. One example is his cosponsorship in 2016 of the HEARD Act (H.R. 5836 ([link removed]) ), which would have directed the Interior department and U.S. Forest Service to offer national public lands for sale or exchange to local governments and set deadlines for sales.
In a 2012 speech, Pearce promised to “reverse this trend of public ownership of lands ([link removed]) ” and turn them over to states or private entities. In another speech ([link removed]) , he urged counties to “take control” of all the land within their boundaries, including national public lands, and reportedly praised counties in New Mexico and Oregon for “taking control,” including the Otero County, New Mexico sheriff who threatened to arrest any Forest Service staff interfering with the county’s logging on national forest land.
Nominating an avowed anti-public lands and sell-off advocate puts America’s public lands on the chopping block. By confirming Pearce to lead the BLM, Senator Lee would have a powerful ally to pursue more ill-fated attempts to sell America’s public lands to the highest bidder.
CWP's Westwise blog is moving to Substack
Westwise is joining the growing public lands conversation on Substack. Read more and ([link removed]) subscribe there ([link removed]) !
** Quick hits
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The government shutdown is over. The nightmare facing public lands under Trump may have just begun
Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
Greater Chaco Coalition condemns Trump administration's rollback of Chaco Protections
KSUT ([link removed])
Deadline for Colorado River decision shifts to February
E&E News ([link removed]) | Nevada Current ([link removed]) | Arizona Republic ([link removed]) | Axios ([link removed]) | KNAU ([link removed])
Lawsuits challenge land exchange aimed at allowing a road to be built in an Alaska wildlife refuge
Associated Press ([link removed])
Trump’s DOE may soon force more coal plants to stay open
Canary Media ([link removed])
Amid 10 dead wolves and federal interference, Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program is struggling
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Lawsuit claims feds defied court order halting work in contested Wyoming oilfield
WyoFile ([link removed])
On national forests, logging projects advance with less public input
Flathead Beacon ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” What the Trump administration did was take a really strident stance against this bipartisan conservation issue. The very common-sensical protection of a UNESCO World Heritage Site is made complicated by oil and gas operators.”
—Mario Atencio, organizer with the Greater Chaco Coalition, KSUT ([link removed])
** Picture This
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[link removed]
@coparkswildlife ([link removed])
Now that right there is some WOW factor ⛰️
Check out these shots of the aurora borealis over Eldorado Canyon State Park last night. It was truly spectacular, and we’re still amazed by the light show Colorado got.
In case you missed it, fear not, we’ve heard the lights may be visible again tonight (Nov. 12).
📷: CPW/Eric Schuette
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