Government Shutdown and Federal Layoffs
Since January 2025, the Department of the Interior (DOI) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have been understaffed, operating under a civilian hiring freeze, combined with the OPM “Fork in the Road” program offering deferred resignations. Mass probationary terminations followed in February, affecting roughly 2,300 DOI employees and 3,400 USFS employees. Subsequent reorganizations redistributed thousands of staff and left significant vacancies in our federal public lands management agencies.
As of early November, the U.S. federal government remains in a shutdown, with significant economic and administrative repercussions. Approximately 4,000 federal employees have been laid off, with White House
budget director Russ Vought anticipating over 10,000 total layoffs over the shutdown. However, a federal judge in San Francisco issued a temporary restraining order on October 15, blocking the administration from proceeding with these layoffs.
BHA issued an updated action alert titled “Support Fully Staffed Land Management Agencies.”
Congressional Review Act (CRA) Resolutions
Several Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions have recently advanced through Congress, targeting federal public lands management plans:
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Montana Public Lands Resource Management (H.J.Res 104)
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On October 8, 2025, Congress passed H.J.Res 104, which disapproves the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Miles City Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment. Sponsored by Rep. Troy Downing (R-MT-2), the resolution rolls back federal land management directives in Montana.
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North Dakota Public Lands Resource Management (H.J.Res 105)
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H.J.Res 105, passed on October 10, 2025, disapproves the BLM North Dakota Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan. Sponsored by Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), this resolution rolls back land management directives in North Dakota.
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Central Yukon Public Lands Resource Management (H.J.Res 106)
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Also passed on October 10, 2025, H.J.Res 106 disapproves the BLM Central Yukon Planning Area Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan. Sponsored by Rep. Nicholas J. Begich (R-AK), this resolution removes the last major federal obstacle for development of the Ambler Road Project.
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National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (S.J.Res 80)
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S.J.Res 80, sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), was passed by the Seante on October 31st. This resolution seeks to disapprove of the BLM’s Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision for the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, which would influence development and conservation in one of the nation’s largest public lands reserves. This bill’s companion, H.J.Res 124 has been introduced but remains stalled until the House is called back to session.
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Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program (S.J. Res 91)
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Introduced in the Senate on October 28, 2025, S.J.Res 91 disapproves of the Bureau of Land Management’s Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), the resolution was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. A House companion measure has not yet been introduced.
BHA issued an action alert titled “Oppose Congressional Review Act Rollbacks of Public Land Management Plans”
Ambler Road Project
On October 6th, 2025, President Trump approved the Ambler Road Project, a proposed 211-mile industrial access road in northwest Alaska connecting the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District. The project had previously been blocked by the Biden administration due to environmental concerns and potential impacts on Indigenous communities reliant on subsistence hunting and fishing.
The Trump administration’s approval directs federal agencies to reissue necessary permits, asserting there are no feasible alternative routes. The road would pass through remote wilderness areas, including parts of Gates of the Arctic National Park, and has drawn opposition over threats to salmon and caribou habitats.
BHA issued an updated action alert titled “Safeguard the Brooks Range” and posted on social media.
Land & Water Conservation Fund
In FY 2025, the Department of the Interior allocated $681.9 million to permanent LWCF programs, including federal land acquisition and grants to states and tribes. However, the Trump administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal would redirect about $387 million from LWCF acquisitions to deferred maintenance programs, drawing criticism from public lands conservation groups.
In September 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued Secretarial Order 3442, restricting LWCF land purchases and adding new local-approval requirements. To date, the full $900 million authorized for LWCF has remained intact, but BHA is closely monitoring legislation aimed at addressing the deferred maintenance backlog to ensure these LWCF dollars aren’t siphoned away in the process. BHA is supportive of the America the Beautiful Act and the need to restore funding for our ballooning maintenance backlog, while remaining vigilant that LWCF investments aren’t eroded as the bill advances to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, chaired by Sen. Mike Lee, a vocal critic of LWCF.
BHA issued an action alert titled, “Support LWCF and the America the Beautiful Act.” BHA also issued a press release titled, “BHA Calls For Reversal of Attack on Land and Water Conservation Fund.” These actions were accompanied by several press hits including from Field and Stream and Flathead Beacon.
Roadless Rule
On June 23, 2025, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins rescinded the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, lifting restrictions on roadbuilding and logging across nearly 59 million acres of National Forest lands (USDA). A subsequent Federal Register notice on August 29, 2025, launched the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process to formalize the rollback.
BHA issued an action alert titled, “Maintain National Forest Roadless Areas,” with 8,809 individuals taking action via BHA’s site.
Public Lands Rule
On September 10, 2025, the Department of the Interior announced it is proposing to rescind the 2024 Public Lands Rule (also known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule), which had formally elevated conservation as a recognized “use” of BLM lands.
The proposed rule to rescind was published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2025, opening a 60-day public comment period (through November 10) for stakeholders to weigh in.
BHA is planning to issued an action alert titled, “Oppose the Proposal to Rescind the Public Lands Rule,” in addition to a blog post.
Senate Energy & Natural Resources Hearing
A Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee hearing, originally scheduled for early October 2025, was postponed due to the government shutdown. The hearing would have covered several public lands and forest management bills, including:
The hearing will mark a key opportunity for bipartisan discussion on public lands and wildfire legislation.
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