There鈥檚 a new plan in Washington D.C. to auction off public lands, and this one involves millions of acres spread across nearly a dozen Western states.

The latest stipulation would require the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell off roughly 3 million acres by 2030.

On Tuesday, June 10, this plan was added to the draft legislation of President Donald Trump鈥檚 tax and spending megabill by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the U.S. Senate.

This sprawling piece of legislation, called 鈥淥ne Big, Beautiful Bill Act,鈥� passed the House of Representatives in early June, and is currently under debate in the Senate.

Sources 迟辞濒诲听The New York Times that two Republican lawmakers鈥擬ike Lee of Utah and Steve Daines of Montana鈥攚orked closely to decide on the plan.

Previous plans to sell off public lands have been met with public outcry. An earlier version of the Big, Beautiful Bill Act included a smaller selloff proposal, suggesting the liquidation of nearly 500,000 acres of public land in Nevada and Utah.

This provision was axed before the bill passed the House of Representatives, after backlash from the House鈥檚 Public Lands Caucus, a bipartisan group led by New Mexico Democrat Gabe Vasquez and Montana Republican and former interior secretary Ryan Zinke. Zinke called the measure his 鈥淪an Juan Hill.鈥� He has previously told 国产吃瓜黑料:听鈥淭he idea that you鈥檙e going to sell public land to get out of debt is folly.鈥�

This latest鈥攁nd substantially larger鈥攍and sale proposal was announced by Lee, who is the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Specifically, the reconciliation bill鈥檚 language dictates that 鈥渘ot less than 0.50 percent and not more than 0.75 percent鈥� of all BLM land be sold to the private sector, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Identical language and percentages dictate the sale of National Forest land as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

The BLM manages 245 million total acres, and the the Forest Service manages 193 million acres. Under the plan’s rules, up to 3.29 million acres of public lands would be placed on the auctioning block.

Lawmakers have said the sale of public lands would raise funds for the federal government and clear land for housing development. The plan would put public lands in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Zinke鈥檚 state, Montana, is the only Western state excluded from this updated proposal.

The that national parks, national monuments, and designated wilderness areas would be exempt from auction, and land near existing population centers would be prioritized. The bill also mandates that any public land sales must occur solely for 鈥渇or the development of housing or to address associated community needs,鈥� but it leaves the definition of these 鈥渁ssociated community needs鈥� up to the Secretaries concerned.

鈥淪enate Republicans have finally said the quiet part out loud,鈥� said , the ranking Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. 鈥淭hey want to put millions of acres of our public lands up in a fire sale, destroy the investments that have created thousands of manufacturing and clean energy jobs 鈥� including in their home states, and obliterate programs that lower energy costs for everyday Americans.鈥�

The plan received immediate criticism from nonprofit groups and organizations that work in conservation and outdoor recreation.

鈥淲hat some may see as a barren lot on a map on a Senator鈥檚 desk may actually be where a community hikes after work, rides their ATV, or teaches their kids how to hunt turkey or ride a bike,” reads a statement from Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, a lobbying group for the outdoor recreation industry. “And once these treasured places are sold to private industry, they are gone forever, and in the case of this proposal, can be used for any purpose after ten years.”

David Willms, associate vice president for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation, called the plan “orders of magnitude worse than what the House proposed last month.”

鈥淢andating the fire sale of up to two-and-a-half million acres of public land violates more than a century of land stewardship, threatens wildlife and clean water, runs directly against widespread public opinion, and will not begin to solve either the budget crisis or the affordable housing crisis,” he said.

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Last summer, 国产吃瓜黑料 sent writer Drew Magary to Yellowstone National Park, not to observe the wildlife, but instead to gawk at the tourists. Amid all the chaos of high season at one of the United States鈥� most heavily-trafficked national parks, Magary discovered, among other things, that 鈥渆veryone who comes to Yellowstone is horny for bison.鈥�

But unlike other big, dangerous animals like wolves or bears, tourists, Magary noted, weren’t scared off by the 2,000-pound animals. 鈥淵our fight-or-flight instincts don鈥檛 kick in when you see a bison. Quite the opposite. You feel serene. Peaceful. At one with the land. That kind of attitude is why Yellowstone visitors end up gored.”

Alas, Magary’s observation has come true, again.

On Monday, June 10, a 30-year-old man from New Jersey was gored by a bison, near the Old Faithful geyser, after he and a large group of other tourists got too close to the animal. It鈥檚 the second such incident this year. A Florida , under similar circumstances.

The news was published by The National Park Service that asked visitors to use common sense. 鈥淲ild animals can be aggressive if people don鈥檛 respect their space,鈥� the release stated, before reminding visitors 鈥渢o stay more than 25 yards away from all large animals.鈥�

Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal, and human-provoked bison attacks鈥攁lmost always resulting from tourists simply getting too close鈥攐ccur at least a couple of times a year in the park. There were two gorings reported in 2024, and another in 2023. The prevalence of such behavior, specifically in Yellowstone, has led to a nickname, 鈥渢ouron,鈥� a portmanteau of tourist and moron. An eponymous has over half a million follows.

Informally known as 鈥渂uffalo,鈥� American bison are the national mammal of the United States and the largest mammal in North America. Males stand six feet tall, weigh up to 2,000 pounds, and can run 35 miles per hour. Historically, bison roamed in sprawling herds across much of the continent, but were slaughtered for their furs wholesale in the late 1800s by settlers. In the late 1700s, the species numbered 60 million, but by 1889, less than 600 remained. Efforts to revive bison herds have been successful, however, and the latest assessment, in 2016, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reported a population of 31,000.

Fossil records show that bison have continuously lived in Yellowstone since prehistoric times, and roughly 5,000 live in and around the park today, the largest bison population on American public lands.

It鈥檚 worth noting that bison attacks aren鈥檛 just bad for humans. They frequently result in tragedy for the animals. In 2016, a father and son tried to kidnap a baby bison in Yellowstone, which was subsequently rejected by its herd. Too young to survive on its own, the calf was euthanized. A similar incident occurred in 2023, when a man began handling a calf that had been separated from its mother. Despite repeated park efforts to reunite it with its family, this calf was also rejected and abandoned, and later had to be put down as well.

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On May 31, 2025, a webcam in Yellowstone National Park detected a small explosion in the Biscuit Basin Area鈥攖he same zone that suffered an unexpectedly destructive hydrothermal eruption less than a year ago.

On July 23, 2024, steam exploded from the ground beneath Black Diamond Pool in the area, destroying a park boardwalk and launching water, mud, rocks, and other debris up to 600 feet into the air. Some of the stones were up to three feet in diameter and weighed hundreds of pounds, and the event was visible for miles in all directions. No one was injured, but the surrounding area has remained closed to tourists since the incident.

The webcam that captured the most recent eruption was 鈥攁long with seismometers, acoustic sensors, electromagnetic instruments, and other cameras鈥攖o monitor hydrothermal activity in the area.

YELLOWSTONE ERUPTION: The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a small eruption occurred at the Black Diamond Pool in the Biscuit Basin, which was the site of a hydrothermal explosion last summer. Video Credit: United States Geological Survey

FULL STORY:

鈥� NBC Montana (@NBCMontana)

Although last week鈥檚 eruption is the first caught on video since the major explosion last year , the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that 鈥渢here is evidence from other monitoring data and some eyewitnesses that sporadic eruptions have occurred several times since the July 2024 event.鈥� These include eruptions in January and November, both of which shot debris 20 to 30 feet into the air.

Like the 2024 eruption, last week鈥檚 smaller incident is not necessarily a sign of increased volcanic activity or hydrothermal volatility for the area, but more likely indicative of a continued resettling in the wake of the 2024 blast. 鈥淚t is likely that these small eruptions are a result of the hydrothermal plumbing system for the pool adjusting after the major disruption of the larger explosion last summer,鈥� USGS Scientist-in-Charge Michael Poland

Hydrothermal explosions occur when water underground is rapidly heated by a geothermal source, such as magma. Because the water is in a confined space, trapped under overlying rock, it鈥檚 pressurized, which means its boiling point can be much higher than the typical 100掳C/212掳F. That means the water can get significantly hotter before converting into steam. This is a process known as 鈥渟uperheating.鈥�

Once a pressurized body of water is superheated, any sudden drop in pressure (due to a fracturing of the surrounding rock, for example), will cause the water to rapidly convert into steam, resulting in instant and dramatic pressure expansion. Steam’s volume is over 1,500 times greater than that of liquid. This leads to a violent explosion, often strong enough to shatter the surrounding rock and send debris flying up to hundreds of feet into the air.

Hydrothermal explosions aren鈥檛 uncommon in Yellowstone. They occur in the park a few times each year. However, these typically take place in the backcountry, where they aren鈥檛 often detected and don鈥檛 pose a threat to park visitors.

The Black Diamond Pool/Biscuit Basin webcam can be viewed by the public round the clock on the , but although it records footage constantly, the camera does not upload footage live. Instead, fixed images are uploaded to the website at 15 minute intervals. If an event, such as last week鈥檚 explosion, does occur, the USGS plans to post video clips online.

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Following a trio of moose attacks in Colorado, state officials are asking dog owners in mountain towns to keep their pets on-leash.

The three incidents occurred successive days this past week, in three different Colorado mountain towns. In all three, the people who were attacked were walking dogs when they encountered female moose.

On Friday, May 30, two women walking four dogs off-leash in the town of Fairplay came across a cow moose, which charged and stomped the women, who were able to escape without serious injury by climbing onto a roof. According to a , a neighbor was later able to chase the moose away using a fire extinguisher.

The following day, in the community of Grand Lake, a man and woman walking their dog on a leash were also charged by a moose, which knocked the woman to the ground and attempted to stomp on her.

The man eventually grabbed a firearm and shot and killed the moose. “The moose was shot in self-defense while actively posing a threat to human health and safety,鈥� CPW said in a release.

Give moose PLENTY OF SPACE AND RESPECT, especially during the spring. Female (cow) moose w/ calves can be very protective of their young, they may charge, kick or defend themselves if they feel you鈥檙e too close.

鈥� Colorado Parks and Wildlife (@COParksWildlife)

This moose was subsequently found to have been protecting a calf, which officials euthanized.听听鈥淭he decision to euthanize the calf was not easy to make,鈥� said the CPW鈥檚 area wildlife manager, Jeromy Huntington, in a release. 鈥淲hile rehabilitation can be successful in some cases, it’s not a guaranteed solution. In the case of this moose calf, taking it to a rehab at such a young age would not be in the best interest of the animal鈥檚 long-term survival in the wild.鈥�

The CPW release noted that 鈥渨ildlife taken to a rehabilitation facility is primarily intended for the purpose of returning the wildlife to the wild,鈥� and that legally, wildlife may not be held for more than one year.

Grand Lake has been the site of serious moose attacks in the past. In 2006, the town鈥檚 former mayor, Louis Heckert, suffered fatal head injuries after being attacked by a moose while walking to church.

A third moose attack occurred on Sunday, June 1, in Steamboat Springs. A woman was returning from a walk with two leashed dogs in River Creek Park, near the Steamboat Ski Resort, when she was attacked and trampled by a cow moose. The woman was saved by a passing paddleboarder, who was himself injured while scaring the moose away.

According to a local report, the paddleboarder was released with minor injuries, but the woman was in critical condition after the attack, and was later airlifted to a hospital in Denver. Investigating CPW officers later found a moose with twin calves in the area. They believe the moose was startled by the woman and her dog.

This moose and her calves were later relocated out of the park and outside city limits. 鈥淎fter monitoring the moose and her young over the last 48 hours, we determined they were very comfortable in the area and not going to move on their own,鈥� Justin Pollock, assistant area wildlife manager,. 鈥淲hile this area is perfect habitat for moose, the risk not only to their safety in a populated area, but to the safety of people, was too high, which is why we chose to relocate them.鈥�

Moose encounters in Colorado are fairly common, but historically attacks and injuries are rare, particularly inside city limits. CPW has reported only 22 injuries from moose attacks in the state since 2019. Most of these occur during calving season鈥攆rom mid-May to early June鈥攚hen cow moose are giving birth to their young, and behave more aggressively than normal. Another time of increased risk is the breeding season, late September through November. Bull moose often become more territorial and aggressive during this period.

CPW maintains a webpage, , offering advice for staying safe while recreating in moose habitat, particularly during calving season. Cow moose often hide their offspring to protect them from predators but remain nearby, so even if an adult moose appears to be alone, it could very well be protecting a calf out of sight. CPW recommends choosing a trail with good visibility, and making lots of noise when recreating through thick vegetation to avoid startling a moose.

Signs of moose aggression included laid back ears, raised hairs on the neck, a lowered or cocked head, swaying back and forth, licking of the snout, and rolling eyes and ears. But in general, if a moose has reacted to your presence, CPW says, you are too close. In the event of a charge, attempt to place obstacles, like trees or boulders, in between you and the moose.

Walking with dogs off-leash raises risks. The scent and appearance of a dog is often similar to that of wolves, one of the only natural predators of a moose. CPW鈥檚 release says 鈥渕ost moose conflicts involve dogs,鈥� and recommends, particularly when hiking near riparian or willow habitats, where moose are often found, that all canines remain leashed.

鈥淥ff-leash dogs can venture off-trail, surprising hidden moose calves or cows. Cows will, in turn, chase retreating dogs, which can bring the moose in contact with humans,” the agency warns.

While many wild animal attacks occur as a result of human provocation and irresponsibility, CPW public information officer Rachel Gonzalez told The Steamboat Pilot that in some cases, a moose attack can simply be bad luck, and can occur even if an individual is following all recommendations.

鈥淭hings happen even when we follow all of the rules,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n places like Steamboat, it鈥檚 important to be extra vigilant when you鈥檙e recreating. Maybe that means keeping your dog on a shorter leash 鈥� maybe don鈥檛 walk or jog with headphones. I know we all want to listen to our favorite playlist, or that audio book we鈥檝e been sucked into, but you are probably going to hear an animal before you ever see the animal. Moose are really big, but they can blend in so well.鈥�

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Madison Junction is a special spot for anglers visiting Yellowstone National Park. It鈥檚 where the Gibbon and Firehole rivers meet, marking the beginning of the renowned Madison River. For Joe Moore, founder of Big Sky Anglers, and Austin Campbell, a Colorado-based fly-fishing guide, it鈥檚 also the perfect wild habitat to seek out Yellowstone cutthroat trout and bask in the beauty of the park over a glass of bourbon.

Established in 1872,听听was crafted to honor the sprawling wonder of America鈥檚 first national park. It鈥檚 what first inspired us to create approachably smooth whiskey for the benefit and enjoyment of the people, and why we still do it today.

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On Wednesday, May 28, Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper stood alongside state congressman John Neguse near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The two lawmakers spoke about the ongoing fight to protect public lands and the federal agencies that oversee them.

Neguse, 41, recently introduced two bills鈥攃alled Protect Our Parks and Save Our Forests respectively鈥攖hat would reinstate the thousands of employees of the National Forest Service and National Park Service who were fired by the Trump Administration earlier this year.听Hickenlooper, 73, also introduced legislation this spring that would block the White House from selling public lands to decrease the national deficit.

Hickenlooper plans to speak at the in Denver, Colorado later on May 30. We recently caught up with him to discuss the current fight to protect public lands.

OUTSIDE: The American public has been told that protecting federal lands is preventing our country from achieving energy independence, blocking lucrative extraction industries, and preventing the creation of high-paying jobs for Americans.
Hickenlooper: There’s this notion that we need more real estate to drill on, and that our extraction industries are landlocked. They say there is an energy emergency. But if you look over the past six years鈥攁nd if you remove coal energy鈥攚e’ve produced more energy than any other country on the planet, and I’m not talking about per-capita, I’m talking total. We’re certainly not in an energy emergency. I have a fierce sense of urgency around climate change, but I also know that in some areas we do need more mines. I believe in protecting the public’s right to see what, exactly, is going to happen to a piece of land that’s going to be mined. Is there a mineral there that is going to help us create electric vehicles or build the electrical grid in a way that is going to address climate change? Well, maybe we do have to find a way to mine on that land? But with all that said, there are many lands鈥攁nd I include our National Parks here鈥攖hat, no matter how valuable that real estate could be for a mine, the scenic beauty and historic value to the American people is just too great for it to be dug up. I have a hard time seeing any place where public land should be treated as an asset to be bought and sold at the whims of the White House. It just doesn’t make sense.

Americans have been told that public land agencies like the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Forest Service are overstaffed, bloated, and inefficient.听
I really do believe that there are places in the federal government that are fat and inefficient, and when I ran for the mayor of Denver, that was my campaign message. I thought that nobody ever took the time to make a city function as efficiently as a small business. I wanted Denver to use less water, share our water rights and tax base with the suburban communities, and people said I’d never get elected by sharing the wealth of the voters in Denver. That was my whole pitch, and I won, I got two-thirds of the vote. We didn’t lay anybody off, though we did have a hiring freeze for a few years. But we used technology to compensate for fewer people, and I think you can argue that we provided more services for our citizens. That’s what DOGE should have done. But the notion that you’re going to cut 3,000 people from the Forest Service and thousands more from the Park Service and BLM, and somehow the country is going to be better off is just lunacy. The argument that you’ll lay everybody off at first and then look for what is broken and try to fix that is not the way government should work. For so many people who work for these agencies, this is ruining their lives. I’ve talked to government employees who were laid off, some have been rehired, they have little kids and had just moved to Colorado to work in the Forest Service. They’re asking me, “What are we going to do?” Why put people through that?

Recently, the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives succeeded in removing a plan to sell 500,000 acres of public land in Nevada and Utah from the 2025 Reconciliation spending bill. What can those who believe in protecting public lands learn from this?
Public feedback matters, and in this case it led to a widespread adoption of action. People who care about public lands used social media in a way they hadn’t done before. It wasn’t just the nonprofits and advocacy groups, it was grassroots dialogue that generated new points of view and new points of contention on the plan to sell off land. I read one online post that, and I’m paraphrasing, said 鈥淲here do we draw the line? If we start selling public lands and allow that constitutional violation to occur, then what’s next?鈥� I’ve now heard Republicans and Democrats talking about that point. We need to count on the grassroots commentary to generate those points and that language that people are going to repeat.

What political strategies will work in the fight to preserve public lands?
This is an all out war. I’m not someone who sits back and says, 鈥淲ell, let’s see what they do next.鈥� They’re doing it. It’s happening. So the most important thing we can do is let people know what is happening to public lands. Americans by and large support public lands. said that 75 percent of all Americans in the Mountain West region think that the government should not sell public lands to pay down the deficit. Yes, there are some places in mountain towns where small amounts of BLM land exist, and it could allow towns to build affordable housing for Park Service employees or firefighters or municipal employees. Those exceptions can go through the correct process. But the notion that we’re going to sell 500,000 acres of public land should make every person who loves public lands shudder. People who feel that way should get out there and show up at every town hall meeting, every public roundtable, and make yourself heard. We’re going to fight, we may be beaten, but we will rise and fight again. We’re going to lose a bunch of battles on this thing, but I think that if we rise and fight again, we are going to win.

This interview was edited for space听and clarity.

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I was flummoxed, frustrated, and frantic.

It was the spring of 2024, and like millions of Americans, I was searching for a campsite 听ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. I opened several dozen web browser windows on my laptop and pinged between websites like Recreation.gov, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a regional RV resort finder, and yes, even Google Maps. If only there was an easier way to do this,听I thought.

Memories of my campground folly came to mind during a recent call with 听the founder and CEO of Hipcamp, an online campground reservation website. This Tuesday, May 20, Hipcamp launched the solution I so desperately needed: the company’s new smartphone app, which tracks more than half a million campsites

“I think we’ve built the best tool for finding and booking campsites that has ever existed,” Ravasio told 国产吃瓜黑料“Before this, there wasn’t one platform that had them all.”

The Big News

For 2025 has expanded its reach to 565,000 total campsites on its mobile app and website. This represents a two-fold expansion for sites available on Hipcamp.com, and five-fold growth for campsite inventory on the Hipcamp mobile application.

Yep鈥攏o more scrolling between browser windows. It’s all in one place now.

Hipcamp accomplished this massive expansion by adding thousands of RV parks, camping resorts, and off-the-beaten-path private campgrounds to its existing inventory of public and private campgrounds. According to data provided by the company, Hipcamp added 250,000 private campsites and 50,000 public ones in its latest expansion.

It’s as if you combined Airbnb, VRBO, and Hotels.com into one website and smartphone app.

“From National Parks to land trusts to blueberry farms,” Ravasio said.

You can’t book all of these campgrounds directly through the app鈥攆or some, clicking on the campground icon will take you to a booking website (such as Recreation.gov campsites).

But crucial information like real-time date availability, location, and even campground infrastructure is displayed.

“Camping has been a fragmented industry and it has made campsite research extremely hard,” Ravasio shared.听 “We set out to become the one-stop destination for finding campsites, and it took longer than I anticipated.”

How the App Works

I recently watched Travis Green, the company’s head of product, demo the new app, and it’s very similar to the old model. You plug in your region, dates, and type of campsite (tent, RV, glamping) and then add any amenities (pet-friendly, shower, hot tub, etc) and the Hipcamp app pulls up a scrollable map with various campsites and prices on it.

As I watched the demo, I marveled at the dozens of campground pins that popped up in just one section of California near Yosemite National Park.

“Previously you’d see a lot fewer pins on the map,” Green said. “Now we show you everything.”

Another new amenity: Hipcamp shows campsite availability data on public campgrounds from Recreation.gov and from state agencies that manage campgrounds. Previously these campgrounds would appear on the app, but you had to click through to the other websites to see whether or not they were booked.

You still have to click through to Recreation.gov or to state agencies to book some public campgrounds.

A Goal to Make Camping Easier

The release marks a major milestone in the company’s history. Ravasio founded Hipcamp in 2013 after seeing the need for a platform that aggregates campground availability. By the end of Hipcamp’s first calendar year, it had 2,000 campsites under its umbrella.

“I was like, ‘wait, why is it so much easier to find a hotel room than a campsite?'” Ravasio said. “The outdoors deserves modern high-quality tools that improve the user experience.”

In 2019, the company scored a major victory when the federal government, through its contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, agreed to share data with 100,000 campsites from Recreation.gov, the national booking website.

Ravasio believes the recent expansion comes at a critical time for American campers. Budget cuts to the National Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management has left millions wondering if campsites will receive the regular service and maintenance they typically get during the busy spring and summer months.

Public campgrounds often fill up well in advance of busy holiday weekends. The new app听may help campers locate private campgrounds that sometimes fall through the cracks.

“We’re hoping that by unifying all of the campsites, this tool gives campers the ability to spread out and find places they didn’t know about before,” Ravasio said. “Public land is the backbone of outdoor recreation. But these mom and pop campsites鈥攚e’re so excited to give them a chance to connect with campers.”

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On May 7, Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican congressman from Montana, and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat from New Mexico, stood on the steps of the U.S. Capitol building to announce a new voting bloc within the U.S. House of Representatives aimed at protecting public lands.

Called the , the group includes 14 congressmen and women鈥攕even Democrats and seven Republicans鈥攁nd, according to the announcement, aims to “conserve natural resources while supporting recreation, local economies, and public access.”

The future health of America’s public lands is something that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle should care about, Zinke stated.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat or a red or a blue issue,” He told 国产吃瓜黑料.“This is a red, white, and blue issue.鈥�

The new caucus represents a bold step for Zinke, 63, as it may put him at odds with the policy push of his former boss, President Donald Trump. Zinke, a former Navy SEAL, oversaw the Department of the Interior for two years during Trump’s first administration. The department oversees the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Land Management, among other agencies.

During his stint, Zinke was often criticized by environmental groups for to Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument.听国产吃瓜黑料 profiled Zinke in 2017.

But Zinke said he disagrees with some of the Trump Administration’s latest policies on public lands. Since the start of 2025, the Trump Administration has made dramatic staff and budget cuts to these agencies, and rolled back environmental protections to public land. The administration’s proposed 2026 budget calls for the transfer of some National Park sites from federal to state management. And the administration has also floated around Western cities or National Parks to help pay for the president’s domestic agenda.

鈥淭he idea that you’re going to sell public land to get out of debt is folly,” Zinke told 国产吃瓜黑料. “But I’m always open to looking at ways to better manage them.鈥�

Zinke added, “I’m not in favor of selling or transferring public land.”

Instead, Zinke told 国产吃瓜黑料 that his vision for public land management comes from the forefathers of the U.S. National Parks.

鈥淎bout 120 years ago, the great ones鈥擱oosevelt, Muir, Gifford Pinchot鈥攖hey had a vision for the West, to preserve and protect, that gave us so much of the outdoor experiences that we now enjoy,鈥� Zinke said. 鈥淭he challenge today is how do we manage the next 100 years, given the new challenges we face?鈥�

A Multi-Use Model

Zinke said he believes in a “multi-use model” for public land that balances conservation, recreation, and yes, even resource extraction and development.

For example, Zinke, while he was Secretary of the Department of the Interior, oversaw an expansion and upgrade to staff housing inside Yellowstone National Park. Zinke told 国产吃瓜黑料 that the development was the 鈥渉ighest and best use鈥� for the public land on which it was built.

鈥淚t relieves a lot of the pressure on local communities when park employees, particularly seasonal, can live on campus,鈥� he said.

But Zinke added that the plan succeeded because it followed a well-defined political process that included a public comment period, sign-off by state and local officials, and even congressional notification.

“There’s a process because public lands belong to the American public,” he said.

Protection of public lands has become a hot-button topic in American politics, and over the years some communities and states have pushed back on U.S. Presidents for setting aside swaths of land as national monuments or wildlife refuges.

Zinke believes this frustration stems from leaders taking a hard line on environmental protection. Plans that forbid resource extraction or timber harvesting often leave the financial health of adjacent communities out of the decision.

“There’s a lot of anger out there of looking at our natural resources and mostly being blocked from a multiple-use model,” he said.

Zinke also believes public anger toward public land policies can be traced to the overlapping jurisdictional patchwork, which is something he wants the Public Land Caucus to streamline.

He asked听国产吃瓜黑料 to envision a river surrounded by U.S. National Forest that flows into a dam.

“The trout are managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Fish and Wildlife; the salmon are managed by the Department of Commerce through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association; the forest is managed by the Department of Agriculture through the U.S. Forest Service,” he said. “The dam, which controls the flow of water, the temperature, and the riparian banks, is either managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.”

Should the local population want to repair a dam across the river, they would need to go through four separate governmental departments.

“The result is nothing gets done and we drown in bureaucracy,” he said.

But the most pressing issue for U.S. public lands is still the policy changes being driven by the Trump Administration. Zinke said the National Parks face a brain drain after losing several thousand employees this year due to layoffs and buyouts.

The National Parks Conservation Association estimates that 2,400 to 2,500 NPS staff have accepted voluntary buyouts or early retirements since January.听鈥淭he people that are retiring are your senior leaders that have a lot of experience,鈥� said Zinke.

But Zinke also said he believes some of the largest U.S. National Parks are adequately staffed for 2025. 鈥淎t Yellowstone, the numbers of seasonal and permanent [employees] are the highest ever,鈥� Zinke said.

Zinke also called the proposed 2026 plan for the NPS鈥攖o trim $1.2 billion from its $4.8 billion annual spend鈥攁 “skinny budget.”

“My concern as a former Navy SEAL and Secretary of the Interior is to make sure the front line is healthy,” he said. “That’s our National Parks and forests.”

What he鈥檚 not satisfied with is the idea of selling or transferring federal public lands, both of which have recently been proposed by the Trump Administration. Zinke points to Little Bighorn Battlefield, a National Monument.

鈥淚t just so happens to be in Montana,鈥� Zinke said, 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a national treasure.鈥�

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West Virginia鈥檚 famed country roads offer an open invitation. Weaving across rugged terrain and through spirited small towns to uncrowded gems and world-class outdoor adventures alike, the roads form a latticework of endless possibilities for road trip itineraries. Five customized can help connect activities that range from pristine biking to productive fishing, with prime camping options all along the way. While whitewater river sections rightfully earn their share of attention, diverse waterways and lakes across the state offer for every skill level. Start your trip-planning with route options that lean into West Virginia鈥檚 best serene paddling experiences.

Family Friendly

may share a shore with West Virginia鈥檚 as of 2023, but paddlers have flocked here for decades to cruise the lake鈥檚 clear waters and 60-plus miles of shoreline. Starting from Salmon Run boat launch, kayak or stand-up paddle a mile to Pirate鈥檚 Cove for its signature waterfall that pours into the lake. For added miles, paddle three miles from Salmon Run to Long Point, where the sandstone cliffline juts 60 feet above the water. Rock climbers know Summersville Lake (pictured above) as a premier deep-water soloing destination, though regulations prohibit jumping from cliffs into the water from higher than six feet.

Local Gem

is the mecca for watersports in Mountaineer Country; everyone from swimmers to jet skiers shares this 14-mile section of the dammed Cheat River. On a kayak or SUP, launch at Edgewater Marina and paddle a mile upstream to Quarry Run, where you鈥檒l find a waterfall near the confluence. Or sign up for a on Cheat Lake, complete with a private put-in.

Road-Trip Tip > , along with Cheat Lake, is the perfect start and end point to the听 road trip, with plenty of outdoor adventure options and just as many restaurants.

Next Level

The 10.5-mile section of the 鈥攁 designated National Scenic River鈥攆lows between the launch at the Old Mill camping area in . Paddle upstream for mellow Class I water along a secluded river stretch or downstream on Bluestone Lake, created by the dam. Plan time to pit-stop at the 国产吃瓜黑料 Lake and Splash Park, which includes a dozen large inflatables that notch up the fun of a lake day.

+ Refuel Detour: After your float on Summersville Lake, have an ice cream float at. Claim a free pup cup if you鈥檝e brought your dog on the adventure. July sees perfect lake temperatures and Fat Eddie鈥檚 hot dog鈥揺ating contest. Near Cheat Lake is the popular downtown Morgantown restaurant听. Enjoy a comfort-food sandwich and a craft West Virginia beer on the patio. Check the calendar regularly鈥攅vents like the monthly Wakaba Ramen 鈥渢akeover鈥� sell out in minutes.

Explore spirited small towns, undiscovered and uncrowded hidden gems, and world-class outdoor adventures in the Mountain State, where country roads lead you far away from everything鈥攁nd a little closer to heaven. 听

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The National Park Service will lose almost 40 percent of its annual funding and surrender an undetermined amount of federally-run parks to state control鈥攊f the White House鈥檚 plans for 2026 come to fruition.

On Friday, President Donald Trump released his t for 2026, a 44-page document submitted to U.S. Congress that outlines how the government will allocate federal dollars next year.

Included in the document are dramatic upheavals to the Park Service. Currently the NPS operates 63 National Parks and 433 NPS sites, which include national historic sites, national monuments, battlefields, memorials, parkways, rivers, and reserves. In total, the NPS oversees 85 million acres of federal land.

“The National Park Service responsibilities include a large number of sites that are not 鈥楴ational Parks,鈥� in the traditionally understood sense, many of which receive small numbers of mostly local visitors and are better categorized and managed as State-level parks,” the document states. “The Budget would continue supporting many national treasures, but there is an urgent need to streamline staffing and transfer certain properties to State-level management to ensure the long-term health and sustainment of the National Park System.”

The document did not specify which sites would be transferred to state control.

The NPS cuts in the president’s budget total $1.2 billion, and include $900 million removed from the NPS operating budget, $77 million in National Recreation and Preservation grants, $73 million in construction costs. Also set to be cut is $158 million from the NPS Historic Preservation Fund.

“Many historic preservation projects have matching funds from State, local, and private sources, rendering the Historic Preservation Fund highly duplicative,” the document states.

For 2025, the NPS is receiving $3.1 billion in federal funding, a 6 percent decrease from 2024. Trimming $1.2 billion represents a 38 percent cut of the NPS budget and approximately five hundredths of a percent of the annual federal budget.

国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to the Interior Department for comment. 鈥淲e do not comment on personnel matters but please know the Department of the Interior is doing the work necessary to ensure that every visitor has the chance to explore and connect with the incredible, iconic spaces of our national parks,” a department spokesperson said. “We hope that people plan their trips ahead and we look forward to a successful summer filled with memorable and meaningful experiences for all.鈥�

The news prompted spirited replies from nonprofit groups and foundations that work alongside the National Park Service.

鈥淭his is the most extreme, unrealistic and destructive National Park Service budget a President has ever proposed in the agency鈥檚 109-year history,鈥� said Theresa Pierno, the National Park Conservation Association鈥檚 president and CEO, said in a release. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nothing less than an all-out assault on America鈥檚 national parks.鈥�

Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, called the plan “disastrous.”

“Many states don鈥檛 have the resources to maintain these parks and the federal government walking away from their responsibility would result in closed parks, safety risks, trails that are not maintained, and far fewer park rangers,” . “This will be disastrous for not just visitors and resources, but local economies who depend on park tourism as economic drivers. Congress should reject this proposal outright.鈥�

The budget request comes after the White House has already made major cuts to the NPS workforce. In February, the federal government terminated 1,000 full-time NPS employees, and in the weeks afterward offered buyouts to 750 others.

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