Agency within the Interior responsible for administering federal lands
The Biden-era rule prioritizing conservation and restoration on public lands overseen by the BLM has been repealed. The move, announced in the Federal Register, aims to restore the federal land-use balance by rebalancing development interests with conservation, recreation and renewable energy goals.
A MedEvac plane serving wildfire crews has crashed en route from Roswell to Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, killing four aboard. Investigators from the FAA and NTSB are examining the incident as the wildfire page grows in size amid windy, dry conditions.
Three federal wildland firefighters have died while battling fast-moving wildfires in Utah and Colorado. Two others were injured as crews encountered a evolving blaze cluster near the Utah–Colorado line. The incidents revive scrutiny of a new Wildland Fire Service and a push for full suppression, drawing in resources from multiple Interior Department agencies.
Trump's orders have reduced national monument sizes in Utah, reopening decades-long battles over land protections under the Antiquities Act. Biden previously restored boundaries and expanded protections, while legal questions about unilateral changes persist. The shift has sparked backlash from conservationists and tribes, and from Utah officials seeking more development room.
Wyoming lawmakers and allies are backing a plan to swap 933 acres of public land around Martin’s Cove for LDS Church-owned land nearby, a move that would bring the public into the deal and seek congressional approval.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has announced a September 15 lease sale for 41 parcels totaling 2,840 acres in Wayne National Forest, bringing fracking to the forest for the first time. The sale faces legal challenges and public input during a 30-day protest period, while GOP-backed energy policies advance elsewhere.
The Energy Department has selected five states—Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Utah—as potential hosts for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses. These campuses would combine waste management, enrichment and advanced reactors, with data centers and manufacturing. The plan aims to attract private investment and create jobs, as part of a broader push to accelerate civilian nuclear energy under the current administration.