• "Interior Secretary Burgum's Alarming Directive Threatens Public Lands, Migratory Birds, and Endangered Species"

  • Feb 18 2025
  • Length: 3 mins
  • Podcast

"Interior Secretary Burgum's Alarming Directive Threatens Public Lands, Migratory Birds, and Endangered Species"

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  • Summary

  • In a significant and contentious move, the new Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, has issued a directive that profoundly impacts the protection of public lands, migratory birds, and endangered species. On his first full day in office, Burgum released a seven-page directive aimed at easing the way for energy development on federal lands, a decision that aligns with President Trump's broader agenda to roll back environmental protections and advance fossil fuel interests.

    The directive reinstates all energy leases that were canceled under the Biden administration and opens more parcels of public land for oil and gas drilling. This move is seen as a major setback for clean energy development and the protection of natural resources. Critics argue that this policy is misguided, especially given that U.S. oil production is at an all-time high, with over 13 million barrels of oil produced daily in recent months.

    National monuments, which have been a focal point of controversy, are also at risk under Burgum’s order. The directive calls for the review and potential revision of all withdrawn public lands under the Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. This could lead to the shrinkage of national monuments like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, which were previously restored to their original sizes by the Biden administration after being reduced by President Trump.

    Environmental groups and legal experts are vehemently opposing these changes. Tom Delehanty, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, emphasized that these policies contradict the urgent need to preserve biodiversity, protect landscapes, and combat climate change. Earthjustice has indicated it will renew its legal challenges if these monuments are downsized or eliminated.

    The directive also weakens protections for migratory birds, whose populations are already declining due to climate change, disease, and habitat loss. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was previously strengthened by the Biden administration, will now revert to the version implemented during Trump's first term. This version only prohibits deliberate killings of migratory birds, not incidental takes, such as those caused by toxic waste ponds.

    Noah Greenwald, endangered species director at the Center for Biological Diversity, has strongly criticized Burgum’s actions, calling them a “mindless attack” on America’s endangered plants and animals. The changes could particularly imperil species like the Greater Sage-Grouse, which is on the verge of becoming endangered due to mineral leasing on public lands.

    These actions are part of a broader trend under the Trump administration to reshape policy in favor of fossil fuel interests and against environmental protections. The move has sparked widespread criticism and is expected to face numerous legal challenges as environmental groups and advocacy organizations prepare to defend the nation’s public lands and wildlife.
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