Google doc version of the report is here (SCRIBD version coming soon once their upload function is fixed)
REPORT
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2026
200+ Western Local Elected Officials Call On Congress to Stand Up for Public Lands
Letter accompanies a new report: The Current State of Public Lands - What’s happened to American public lands in the Trump administration
DURANGO, CO - Ahead of National Public Lands Day, the Mountain Pact issued a letter to Congress signed by over 200 Western local elected officials calling on Congress to work towards a more balanced approach to public lands management for the West, increase funding to manage these lands, and to do more to help protect these crucial and beloved places that support western economies.
The letter accompanies a new Mountain Pact report that details examples of the current threats facing public lands and impacts to western communities. Since January 2025, an onslaught of attacks from anti-parks lawmakers in Congress and from the Trump administration have threatened the stewardship and conservation of these bipartisanly beloved places. The report covers:
Relentless attacks on federal public lands from the Trump administration and some members of Congress, despite broad public support.
Cuts to public land agency staffing and funding; weakened or removed policies that protect conservation goals; fast-tracked development and fossil fuels; and public lands being sold off or removed entirely.
The impact these threats have had to Western mountain communities, including by limiting wildfire preparedness and response; threatening the economic value of public lands; and putting the burden of land protection on local governments.
For local elected officials in mountain towns across the American west, public lands are more than beautiful scenery: they’re homelands for Indigenous Peoples, vital to local economies, refuges for plants and animals, and part of the way of life in communities.
The Mountain Pact Executive Director Anna Peterson said, “Threats to the integrity of public lands deeply harm ways of life in Western mountain communities. Leadership from everyday people, local elected officials, conservation groups, and Congressional representatives have been able to prevent some threats from coming to fruition, but a lot has happened in the past year and a half. The disastrous repercussions of so many harmed federal policies will take years to fix - and, in many cases, will never be able to be repaired. It’s heartbreaking. We urge Congress to push back more strongly against damaging actions to keep our beloved public lands safe and in public hands.”
QUOTES FROM LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS IN WESTERN STATES
ARIZONA
Chair of the Pima County, Arizona Board of Supervisors Jennifer Allen said, “Four generations of my family call Arizona home, and the next four generations of our communities also deserve to enjoy and be a part of the lands that reflect our histories. But these reckless attacks from the Trump Administration are putting these precious spaces at risk. Arizona public lands are critical drivers of our local economy and offer incredible opportunities to appreciate Arizona’s majestic desert and mountain landscapes. They are too important to be at the mercy of the Trump administration’s games.
The delicate, beautiful ecosystems on our public lands are being destroyed to build a second wall at the border. Much of this wall is being built across the lands of the Tohono O’odham Nation which they have stewarded from time immemorial and are their sovereign territory. Not only is this devastating to the natural systems, it also represents a heinous militarization of both public and tribal lands. Critical environmental and sacred cultural areas will be damaged or destroyed in this process. This wall and the ensuing destruction of these treasured lands will have long-term economic and social consequences for the people of Pima County.”
Chair of the Coconino County, Arizona Board of Supervisors Patrice Horstman said, “Coconino County is home to five national forests; five national monuments, including our state’s newest national monument, Baaj Nwaav jo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument; and Grand Canyon National Park, the crown jewel of our national parks and a natural wonder of the world.
These lands are not tradable assets—they are the bedrock of our communities, economy, and heritage. Here in Coconino County, our public lands—spanning nearly five million acres—are essential to our identity and prosperity. From the grandeur of the Grand Canyon to the rich forests surrounding Flagstaff, these landscapes are not only sacred to Indigenous Peoples and wildlife: they are a vital economic engine for surrounding communities, bringing $1 billion in economic output to northern Arizona communities.
Our county is a special place, and is recognized as one of the premier locations in the country for outdoor recreation and activities like hiking, biking, climbing, and river rafting because of our beautiful public lands. These pristine outdoor landscapes are the heart and soul of our communities.
The actions of this administration places our public lands at risk and are devastating to the ecosystems, displaces wildlife, threatens indigenous stewardship, and undermines our rural economies which rely on recreation, tourism, grazing, hunting, fishing, and cultural heritage. These lands belong to all of us—not to be bargained away for short‑term political gain.”
Pima County, Arizona Supervisor Rex Scott said, “Arizonans cherish our public lands - they are crucial to the economic and cultural health of many Western communities, including here in Pima County which is home to irreplaceable places like Organ Pipe Cactus and Ironwood Forest national monuments. Public lands are the backbone of Arizona’s outdoor heritage, and selling these treasures off is simply unacceptable. America’s public lands support our outdoor recreation and tourism economies, and contribute to the health and well-being of our communities. They help shape the places we call home, while also ensuring a healthier, brighter future for generations to come, which is why we can’t afford to sell them off to the highest bidder. We need a more balanced, thoughtful approach that takes the needs of our communities into consideration, instead of prioritizing profit for companies.”
CALIFORNIA
Town of Truckee, California, Council Member and Former Mayor Jan Zabriskie said, “Our town council rarely involves itself in federal matters, but we have unanimously adopted resolutions expressing our strong opposition to recent federal funding and staffing cuts affecting public lands and essential services. Our community is surrounded by the national forest and the funding cuts and staffing reductions have put our local economy and safety at risk. Our community members are deeply concerned about federal wildfire responses, campground closures, reduced monitoring of dispersed campfires, the availability and cost of property insurance, tourism impacts, and reduced services on public lands. The federal administration needs to reverse course and restore funding and staffing.”
City of Big Bear Lake, California Mayor Randall Putz said, “California’s vast public lands are treasures that provide our communities with boundless access to recreation and support critical water and wildlife resources. The current anti-public lands ideology is a direct assault on the values we hold dear, and make the job of protecting our forests, rivers, and iconic desert landscapes much more difficult by jeopardizing the livelihoods of Western communities like ours that rely on these lands to create good-paying jobs and to sustain our outdoor way of life.”
Nevada County, California Supervisor Hardy Bullock said, “Communities like ours depend on easily accessible public lands as a major pillar of our economy, and are a reason so many of us call this place home. Selling them off to the highest bidder will see significant long-term negative consequences for conservation, diminished Native American rights and cultural heritage sites, and reduced or eliminated public access to our treasured outdoor resources.
Sufficient funding and thoughtful management are key to successfully balancing conservation, access, and enjoyment of our public lands. By gutting our public land agencies and eviscerating national monuments, the Trump Administration is putting our most cherished public spaces at risk. Make no mistake: if these actions aren’t reversed, our communities will face severe consequences. I urge Congress to stand up for our public lands before it’s too late.”
COLORADO
Summit County, Colorado Commissioner Nina Waters said, “For decades, Summit County has served as a strong partner of the U.S. Forest Service in working together to mitigate risk, including wildfire, and steward the public lands that are at the core of our economy and quality of life. 80% of Summit County is public land and the White River National Forest is among the most visited national forest in the country.
Properly managing public lands takes strong stewardship, adequate staffing, and sustained federal-local partnerships. We are deeply concerned that cuts to USFS funding , and threats of selling off our county’s greatest asset to the highest bidder will threaten those partnerships that our community depends on.
Summit County has been covering many of the costs associated with providing essential services on and around federal lands. When that funding and staffing cease, those responsibilities don’t disappear. They shift the responsibility onto local governments putting even more financial stress on our rural community.
We need the federal government to understand how critical their partnership is in caring for these lands and for the rural economies they support. Local communities can’t continue to pick up the tab for federal responsibilities.”
Chaffee County, Colorado Commissioner Gina Lucrezi said, "A cornerstone of Chaffee County’s approach to natural amenities management is the close working partnerships we have with our regional USFS district ranger teams and other land management agencies, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Bureau of Land Management which cares for Brown’s Canyon National Monument, a major draw to our region. USFS staffing cuts mean that the primary pillars of our local economy, ranching and tourism, are immediately vulnerable to environmental degradation, increased wildfire risk, recreation and grazing challenges, watershed pollution, and habit loss for big game and important species.
Cuts in USFS funding and staffing put pressure and strain on local resources (human and financial) to fill the gaps of implementing priority wildfire fuels reduction programs and providing valuable education to public lands visitors. These reductions result in our forests going unchecked for unattended campfires left to dangerously smolder, which can lead to catastrophic consequences. This is not a theoretical threat for us, it is a real, daily danger to our county that we cannot mitigate without key partners in federal agencies."
Eagle County, Colorado Commissioner Matt Scherr said, "In Eagle County, we’ve raised money to hire workers to help keep White River National Forest clean and safe. The Forest Service, meanwhile, hasn’t been able to hire seasonal staff. I'm proud that this community supports public lands work--having people out there talking to people, clearing trails, and keeping campsites clean is important to keep our community happy and healthy. But we can't be the only ones supporting it! Historically, we've been able to sustain these projects by partnering with federal agencies. Now, we're on our own, and that's very worrisome."
Routt County, Colorado Commissioner Sonja Macys said, "In communities like Routt County, public lands drive our economy and define our way of life. These lands belong to everyone. Actions by the administration to weaken our federal land management agencies, harm its workforce, and jeopardize the economic and recreational benefits that our community depends on is shameful. For Routt County, protecting these lands isn’t theoretical, it’s about safeguarding jobs, access, and the outdoor heritage that sustains our community.
As a County commissioner and supporter of public lands in Routt County, the proposal to develop 14,000 acres for more oil and gas is appalling to Routt County residents. The proposal wants to take huge portions of Routt National Forest and transform popular recreation areas and important wildlife habitat into private areas mined for fossil fuels. The project's environmental impact review ignored laws, used outdated references, and was not published in a press release. This administration is pushing fossil fuels on us at the expense of our beloved public lands. I don't want that to be the Routt County that future generations inherit.”
Former Chaffee County, Colorado Commission Chair, former Friends of Browns Canyon Executive Director, and retired U.S. Navy Commander Keith Baker said, “In Chaffee County, we know the tremendous benefits protected public lands have for our community. Preserving sites like Browns Canyon for future generations is essential to maintaining our country's shared past, which is what makes the Trump Administration’s stance towards national monument designations so concerning. As we continue feeling the impacts of climate change, further protections for our most important landscapes are vital. Staff cuts, funding cuts, and the deprioritization of conservation put the future of sites like Browns Canyon at risk, and expose local people to climate change related impacts even more.”
San Miguel County, Colorado Commissioner Galena Gleason said, “San Miguel County is aware of the actual and proposed budget cuts and layoffs at the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. These cuts will compromise the agencies' capacity to respond to growing visitation, manage rangelands, maintain trails and trailheads, and educate visitors on regulations and law enforcement. They will also reduce the agencies' collective ability to fight wildfires and conserve these lands for future generations. San Miguel County's public lands, economy, and residents will all bear the cost of these cuts."
Chaffee County, Colorado Commissioner PT Wood said, “In Chaffee County our public lands are at the very core of who we are. Our public lands are not just our playground, they sooth our souls, are central to our economy, and protect our water and climate. These aren't bargaining chips: they are us.
One of the biggest impacts we are seeing is the lack of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rangers and law enforcement officers. This allows more illegal and harmful activities to go on, such as off trail motorized use, illegal dispersed camping, more trash, shooting, and others. All the public land agencies are down staff, and our local Royal Gorge BLM office is no different: it’s down 16 out of 45 fulltime employees. A number of our prescribed burns were put on hold, increasing wildfire risk countywide.
Chaffee County discusses the impacts regularly with both our public land agencies and our congressional delegation. We also financially support our Rec Ranger and Rec Adopter programs that help fill in where federal staff is lacking.”
La Plata County, Colorado Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton said, “Public lands are integral to our way of life in the Four Corners. They provide key protections for the one-of-a-kind natural wonders and cultural sites that bring millions of dollars in revenue to our region, increase access for outdoor recreation, and help people appreciate and enjoy nature, all while supporting wildlife habitat and promoting water conservation. These unique landscapes are worthy of protection. Staffing cuts and reductions in funding do the opposite.”
Aspen, Colorado Mayor Rachael Richards said, “Our local White River National Forest is the busiest forest in the United States. Its 2.3 million acres of public land are the lifeblood of the Rocky Mountains and the Aspen community. They provide essential resources, landscapes, and a plethora of recreation opportunities, and are protected by civil servants who process permits, protect water resources, clean the bathrooms, and ensure unattended campfires are doused. Travel spending from visitors to the area contributed $4.2 billion to the economies in Pitkin, Eagle, and Summit Counties in 2023–public lands are a huge economic contributor.
Staffing shortages have already indefinitely closed a major office in our local region. More staff reductions have the potential to be devastating to proactive forest management, limiting prescribed burns, watershed protection, and maintenance. What’s more, reduction in permitting could shutter local businesses that rely on permits, like outfitters and guides for fishing, skiing, and rafting trips. We need federal leadership to protect our communities and public lands, not continue to gut them.”
Aspen, Colorado Mayor Pro-Tem John Doyle said, “The City of Aspen has long been a leader in advancing bold climate action, grounded in local values and science-based policy. We rely on our environment for recreation and tourism, and we’ve invested heavily in areas like climate resilience, clean energy, and local air quality protections to help ensure that this place can continue to be enjoyed by future generations. We want that legacy to continue through more investment in clean energy, and not in fossil fuels.”
Durango, Colorado Former Mayor and Council Member Gilda Yazzie said, "The Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monument landscapes have been important to Tribal communities since time immemorial. President Trump undoing these protections is an affront to the Tribal nations and communities who worked so hard for so long to protect these places. I'm heartbroken that President Trump has taken actions to rollback protections for Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments."
IDAHO
Blaine County, Idaho County Commissioner Angenie McCleary said, "Access to public lands is essential to the quality of life we cherish here in Blaine County. Whether it’s hiking in the Sawtooths, skiing on Bald Mountain, fishing the Big Wood River, or hunting in the Sawtooth National Forest, these lands are at the core of who we are and a cornerstone of our local economy. For that reason, residents of Blaine County are deeply concerned about recent actions by the current administration and with federal agencies that manage our National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands across the West, including here in Idaho.
In Blaine County, public lands are more than scenic backdrops—they support a thriving recreation economy, sustain local jobs, and draw visitors from around the world. Idahoans cherish and depend on our public lands-they are integral to our identity as a community and our stewardship of the land. Selling them off would do irreversible harm, not just to our way of life, but to the natural and economic fabric of our region. Public lands drive Idaho’s $3.4 billion outdoor recreation economy. Attempts over the past year to curtail protecting our nation’s most treasured landscapes, through budget cuts and staffing reductions are misguided and detrimental.”
City of Ketchum, Idaho Council Member Tripp Hutchinson said, “In America, we’re lucky that public lands belong to all of us, and are available for everyone to use and enjoy. But it takes care and resources to keep our public lands safe and accessible. The actions by this administration over the past year has not treated America’s public lands as the important assets they are. Instead, they have hurt our Western hunting heritage while defunding our nation’s most precious resources.”
MONTANA
City of Missoula, Montana City Council Member Eric Melson said, "Missoula’s economy is driven by outdoor recreation; healthy rivers, clean air, and accessible public lands define our identity and quality of life. Protecting these assets isn’t just an environmental obligation—it’s an investment in our residents’ future. We must ensure public lands remain well-funded, well-managed, and open to all. Defunding, cutting staff and fast-tracking resource extraction take away from that goal.”
NEVADA
City of Reno, Nevada Council Member Devon Reese said, "Protected public lands are hugely important to Nevadans and Renoites. We love these areas for their beauty and for the time that we can spend immersed in the wonder of the outdoors, alongside these other benefits. To us, the value of these places isn't about how many resources we could get out of them--it's about the enjoyment of the natural world. We should be doing more to protect and support our public lands, instead of starving them of badly-needed resources and exploiting them for short-term gain.”
Protected public lands help sustain our state’s vital outdoor recreation economy, which is why and how so many of our small towns and businesses thrive. The vitality of our communities is linked to the health of our public lands, which is why I am gutted that the Trump administration continues to put our public lands in jeopardy.”
NEW MEXICO
City of Albuquerque, New Mexico City Council Member Tammy Fiebelkorn said, “Protected public lands play a major role in preserving our deep cultural history and our shared sense of place in New Mexico. They also add to our economy, and give our residents places to hike, watch wildlife, and connect with nature. Above all, public lands are critical in helping New Mexico remain the ‘Land of Enchantment,’ and we owe it to our communities to ensure those protections remain in place for future generations to enjoy. The current administration’s actions make it harder for people to connect with nature by selling off public lands, expanding leasing, and prioritizing extraction over other uses.”
City of Las Cruces, New Mexico Council Member Becky Corran said, “Public lands in communities like Las Cruces draw tens of thousands of visitors to our region whose money is invested back into our community through infrastructure, economic development, and community programming. These places also lead to broader participation in nature-conserving recreation, and elevate a broader understanding of the land’s meaning in the context of our cultural and indigenous histories. Cuts to staffing and funding, and fast-tracking leasing, make the land and the people that care about it weaker. When these lands are under threat, we’re under threat.”
OREGON
City of Salem, Oregon City Council Member Paul Tigan said, “As a former BLM Field Manager, I know firsthand how critical our federal employees are to the resilience of our public lands and safety of our communities. The Trump Administration’s reckless assaults on wildfire preparedness, national monuments, and the hardworking men and women who protect America’s public lands is beyond shameful. I urge Americans of every political persuasion to ask yourself: does it make sense to be less ready for the next wildfire, the next natural disaster? If the answer is no, then tell the Trump administration and your Congressional representatives to rethink these senseless attacks on our shared public lands.”
UTAH
Grand County, Utah County Commissioner Trisha Hedin Utah, said, “Grand County is home to such national treasures as Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and nearby Bears Ears National Monument, which are crucial to our economy, our recreational opportunities, and our physical and psychological well-being. I am deeply concerned that the Trump Administration's actions are putting these irreplaceable places, and countless others like it across the West, at risk.
In Grand County, we’ve seen closures of National Park Service facilities and issues with the maintenance of federal land management facilities. There have been impacts on cultural resources on NPS and BLM lands, and we have lost many researchers and research projects funded by federal dollars. We have lost many of the staff who retained institutional knowledge, as well as a tremendous number of seasonal staff. Many staff were fired and furloughed. These cuts affect our economy, as instability, particularly within our national parks, turns visitors away from our community. I have also had the federal government, in line with the state, retract the timed-entry system which was alleviating traffic and preserving natural resources in Arches National Park, replacing it with an ill-funded and ill-conceived shuttle system partially funded by Grand County residents. We need to ensure public lands remain protected, staffed, and funded so these critical landscapes can continue benefiting communities like ours for years to come.”
Summit County, Utah County Councilor Megan McKenna said, “Summit County is home to the Mirror Lake Highway, a world-renowned destination in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, which welcomes two million annual visitors and is one of the top contributors to the recreation sector in Utah. Our public lands anchor our state’s outdoor recreation and tourism economy and bring millions of visitors each year to our state. They also connect us with each other and with nature, and provide critical water resources while supporting small businesses and creating good-paying jobs. We need to take the care and protection of our public lands seriously, which is why I am calling on President Trump and Congress to rethink these attacks on public lands and ensure these priceless landscapes remain healthy and accessible for us all to enjoy.”
Alta, Utah Former Mayor Harris Sondak said, “As the former Mayor of Alta, Utah, a small mountain town where 80% of the land is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and home to a world-renowned ski area, I’m deeply concerned about funding and staff cuts to public lands in the Central Wasatch. These lands are not only iconic and scenic; they are vital. The open spaces surrounding Alta play a critical role in protecting the watershed that supplies drinking water to over half a million residents in the Salt Lake Valley. They support irreplaceable wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and they provide unmatched opportunities for recreation in all four seasons—from skiing and snowshoeing to hiking, climbing, and wildlife viewing.
Lands in sensitive watershed areas, critical habitats, or essential to Utah’s outdoor recreation economy should remain in public hands for the benefit of all - and should have the funding and staffing to maintain them.”
WASHINGTON
Covington, Washington Mayor and former National Park and U.S. Forest Ranger Sean Smith said, "Here in Covington, we’re proud to live next door to the type of public lands that embody the best of America’s natural heritage. Public lands fuel our regional economy, provide it with clean water and wildlife habitat, and offer unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation. As someone who has served in both the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of strong, effective land management. We need smart stewardship—not political games that threaten what makes this region such a great place to live, work, and play.”
City of Leavenworth, Washington Mayor Carl Florea said, “Our community is surrounded by protected public lands, that locals and visitors alike come to recreate on and experience their beauty and solitude. These places support our growing outdoor recreation and tourism economies. They help provide jobs and revenue to support local employees and projects. But this administration’s drastic cuts have meant that our wilderness areas cannot be properly maintained. This means that our precious Alpine Lakes Wilderness is being degraded, and without the restoration of significant resources, not only will future generations miss out on this accessible once-pristine experience, but the Leavenworth water source is in danger of contamination due to the amount of human waste that is piling up and not properly taken care of as in past years. Public lands are something to be celebrated, and I am gravely concerned by the administration’s actions that are harming these lands.”
WYOMING
Teton County, Wyoming Commissioner Len Carlman said, “We know and love our neighbors and family members who work for the Forest Service, Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and BLM. These public servants are not faceless and fraudulent federal bureaucrats as far away politicians in Washington D.C. want you to believe. They have meaningful careers stewarding the nation’s resources and welcoming the American public. Their work keeps people safe and helps our community thrive.
In talking to staff at our local Ranger Districts and the Bridger-Teton National Forest Headquarters, it’s clear that staff cuts, organizational chaos and attacks on morale have been devastating. We’ve been informed that offices lack the staff to conduct basic day-to-day tasks. Delivery of approved grant funding to long-established partner-stewardship organizations like Friends of the Bridger-Teton are being endlessly delayed. Some Ranger Districts have equipment needed to fight wildfires, but they are at risk of having no staff to drive the vehicles. If there’s a wildfire, firefighting rigs may be left in parking lots because there’s no one left who can drive them. Continuing like this puts public lands and people at unnecessary risk. The current crop of federal government elected and administrative officials in Washington DC talk a big game about keeping public land decision-making and management close to the ground and then they deliberately undermine the agencies. It’s not ok.”
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Founded in 2014, The Mountain Pact educates, empowers, and mobilizes hundreds of bi-partisan local elected officials in over 150 Western mountain communities with outdoor recreation based economies to speak with a collective voice on federal climate, public lands, and outdoor recreation policy.
More Information on The Mountain Pact Recent Actions on Impact to Federal Public Lands:
Last spring, more than 315 current and former Western local elected officials from both sides of the aisle, including mayors, county commissioners/supervisors, state lawmakers, and city and town council members/trustees urgently called for a more balanced approach to the management of our public lands.
Last fall, 180 elected mountain community leaders from across the West urged the Trump Administration to abandon its shortsighted push to roll back the Public Lands Rule—a critical rule the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized last year that balanced stewardship on public lands by putting conservation on equal footing with other uses of BLM land like energy development, livestock grazing and recreation.
And last winter, more than 160 elected officials from across the Western United States called on their state Attorneys General to hold the federal government accountable for its reckless gutting of our nation’s wildfire preparedness.
LETTER
Septermber 16, 2026
To: Members of Congress
CC: Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
As local elected officials across the Western U.S., we know the value of public lands. These beloved protected spaces sustain our communities and serve as the backbone of our outdoor way of life. They include the traditional homelands of Indigenous peoples and vital watersheds for downstream communities. Protected and effectively stewarded public lands provide a wealth of opportunities for outdoor recreation and tourism, serve as critical refuges for threatened animals and plants, and keep our people safer and healthier in the face of a changing climate.
Recently, there have been numerous threats to the health and protection of our public lands. For the sake of our communities, we oppose these attacks, and we ask you to join us. Our robust public lands system today is the result of many people working hard to care for these places and create policies that sustain them. We ask you to join in that legacy by standing up to protect public lands for the American people – of the present, and of generations to come.
Public lands are under threat. In 2025 and 2026, we have seen Secretary Burgum, the Trump administration, and some members of Congress repeatedly place multi-national corporate profit and resource extraction ahead of conservation and the public good. From the administration, these attacks include deep cuts to agency staffing and budgets; the fossil-fuel-forward Energy Dominance agenda; attempts to roll back conservation measures like the Roadless Rule; the rescission of the Public Lands Rule; cuts to wildfire staff and funding; practically eviscerating Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments by 90%; and many others. Additionally, some Congresspeople have introduced 80+ anti-parks bills, including legislation to weaken conservation laws, sell off public lands, reduce agency budgets, use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to remove protections, and many other threats. These actions put our communities at risk and go against the will of the majority of the American public.
We know these threats have and will continue to impact our communities and public lands. But we have also seen the power of public outcry and action by some members of Congress to reduce the damage. Pushback prevented President Trump’s proposed 25% cut in the 2026 NPS budget from occurring. Loud nationwide opposition – including from nearly 70 western mountain communities – removed Senator Mike Lee’s mandate to sell public lands from the One Big Beautiful Bill. And recently, the push to repeal the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument resource management plan with the CRA failed, in part, due to an outpouring of opposition. When we work together, we can stop attacks on public lands and protect them for the future.
Public lands drive our economies. It’s critical to protect public lands because of their intrinsic value, but also for the key role they play in our local economies. In 2024, National Park Service (NPS) sites contributed $10.3 billion of value to the local economies in our 11 Western states. Data shows that the creation of new national monuments is associated with a boost in local businesses and jobs. Protected public lands enhance communities by creating jobs and boosting outdoor recreation economies – which in 2024 contributed 2.4% ($695.7 billion) of the national GDP.
Protecting public lands has bipartisan support. 2026 Conservation in the West polling found that 78% of Republicans and 93% of Democrats said that public lands issues are important in deciding whether to support an elected official. 91% of Westerners - and 87% of Trump voters, up from 81% last year - wanted to keep existing national monuments protected. Another poll found that over 70% of Americans oppose the sale of public lands, including 61% of Trump voters. Across the political spectrum, people find value in public lands and support elected representatives who preserve that value.
Now more than ever, we must continue to take and support meaningful actions to protect public lands for the future. We urge you to stand up for public lands, as representatives of a public that will widely support you doing so. We ask you to oppose budget cuts and land sales, support public lands staffing, and prioritize forward-thinking climate action. A balanced approach to public lands management for the West, as well as increased funding to manage these lands, will help protect these crucial and beloved places that also support our western economies.
Sincerely,
Mayor Becky Daggett, City of Flagstaff, Arizona
Council Member Anthony Garcia, City of Flagstaff, Arizona
Council Member Austin Aslan, City of Flagstaff, Arizona
Mayor Andrea Wood, Town of Patagonia, Arizona
Vice-Mayor Michael Stabile, Town of Patagonia, Arizona
Chair and District 3 Supervisor Jennifer Allen, Pima County, Arizona
County Supervisor Rex Scott, Pima County, Arizona
Chair Board of Supervisors Patrice Horstman, Coconino County, Arizona
County Supervisor Lena Fowler, Coconino County, Arizona
Vice-Chair Board of Supervisors Jeronimo Vasquez, Coconino County, Arizona
County Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros, Coconino County, Arizona
County Supervisor Judy Begay, Coconino County, Arizona
Council Member Miranda Schubert, City of Tucson, Arizona
Mayor Clarinda Vail, Town of Tusayan, Arizona
Mayor Randall Putz, City of Big Bear Lake, California
Council Member Gary Gardner, City of Desert Hot Springs, California
Mayor Amanda Rice, Town of Mammoth Lakes, California
Council Member John Wentworth, Town of Mammoth Lakes, California
Mayor Pro Tem Nina Tarnay, City of Manhattan Beach, California
Nevada County Supervisor 5th District Hardy Bullock, Nevada County, California
Nevada County Supervisor Heidi Hall, Nevada County, California
Council Member Jan Zabriskie, Town of Truckee, California
Council Member Dave Polivy, Town of Truckee, California
Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Julie McCluskie, Colorado
State Senator Dylan Roberts, Colorado
State Senator Judy Amabile, Colorado
State Senator SD28 Mike Weissman, Colorado
State Representative, House District 57 Elizabeth Velasco, Colorado
State Representative Tammy Story, Colorado
County Commissioner Kathy Henson, Adams County, Colorado
Mayor Rachael Richards, City of Aspen, Colorado
Mayor Pro-Tem John Doyle, City of Aspen, Colorado
Council Member Kevin Hyatt, Town of Avon, Colorado
Mayor David Knight, Town of Basalt, Colorado
Mayor Pro Tem Hannah Berman, Town of Basalt, Colorado
Former Council Member William Infante, Town of Basalt, Colorado
County Commissioner Marta Loachamin, Boulder County, Colorado
County Commissioner Ashley Stolzmann, Boulder County, Colorado
County Commissioner Claire Levy, Boulder County, Colorado
Mayor Aaron Brockett, City of Boulder, Colorado
Mayor Pro Tem Tara Winer, City of Boulder, Colorado
Council Member Taishya Adams, City of Boulder, Colorado
Council Member Stephen Gerard, Town of Breckenridge, Colorado
Council Member Dick Carleton, Town of Breckenridge, Colorado
Council Member Paloma Delgadillo City & County of Broomfield, Colorado
Council Member Sean McKenzie, City and County of Broomfield, Colorado
Trustee Micha Rosenoer, Town of Buena Vista, Colorado
Trustee Colin Laird, Town of Carbondale, Colorado
County Commissioner Jodie Hartman-Ball, Clear Creek, Colorado
County Commissioner George Marlin, Clear Creek County, Colorado
County Commissioner Rebecca Lloyd, Clear Creek County, Colorado
County Commissioner Gina Lucrezi, Chaffee County, Colorado
County Commissioner Dave Armstrong, Chaffee County, Colorado
County Commissioner PT Wood, Chaffee County, Colorado
Former County Commissioner Keith Baker, Chaffee County, Colorado
Council Member Beth Goldstone, Town of Crested Butte, Colorado
Mayor Joshua Samuel, Town of Dillon, Colorado
Mayor Pro-Tem Barbara Richard, Town of Dillon, Colorado
Town Trustee Frank Lancaster, Town of Estes Park, Colorado
Mayor Dave Woodruff, City of Durango, Colorado
Mayor Pro Tem Jessika Loyer, City of Durango, Colorado
Council Member Kip Koso, City of Durango, Colorado
Former Mayor and current Council Member Gilda Yazzie, City of Durango, Colorado
County Commissioner Tom Boyd, Eagle County, Colorado
County Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney, Eagle County, Colorado
County Commissioner Matt Scherr, Eagle County, Colorado
Former County Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry, Eagle County, Colorado
Councilmember Geoffrey Grimmer, Town of Eagle, Colorado
Council Member Gina McCrackin, Town of Eagle, Colorado
Council Member Scott Schreiner, Town of Eagle, Colorado
Mayor Brian Cerkvenik, Town of Fraser, Colorado
Mayor Rick Ihnken, Town of Frisco, Colorado
County Commissioner Susan Berumen, Gilpin County, Colorado
County Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth, Gilpin County, Colorado
County Commissioner Jeff Aiken, Gilpin County, Colorado
Council Member Sumner Schachter, City of Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Mayor Laura Weinberg, City of Golden, Colorado
Council Member Don Cameron, City of Golden, Colorado
Council Member Patty Evans, City of Golden, Colorado
Council Member Scott Beilfuss, City of Grand Junction Colorado
County Commissioner Jonathan Houck, Gunnison County, Colorado
Chair, County Commissioner Laura Daniels, Gunnison County, Colorado
County Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton, La Plata County, Colorado
County Commissioner Matt Salka, La Plata County, Colorado
County Commissioner Elizabeth Philbrick, La Plata County, Colorado
Council Member Isabel Cruz, City of Lakewood, Colorado
Council Member Paula Nystrom, City of Lakewood, Colorado
County Commissioner John Kefalas, Larimer County, Colorado
Mayor Dana Greene, City of Leadville, Colorado
Mayor Pro Tem Judith Chandler City of Manitou Springs, Colorado
Mayor Scott Pearson, Town of Mountain Village, Colorado
Trustee and Former Mayor Billy Giblin, Town of Nederland, Colorado
Trustee Kristopher Larsen, Town of Nederland, Colorado
Mayor Pro Tem Joan May, Town of Ophir, Colorado
Former Mayor Corinne Platt, Town of Ophir, Colorado
County Commissioner Greg Poschman, Pitkin County, Colorado
Mayor John I Clark, Town of Ridgway, Colorado
Council Member Michelle Montague, Town of Ridgway, Colorado
Council Member Josey Scoville, Town of Ridgway, Colorado
Council Member Polly Kroger, Town of Ridgway, Colorado
Council Member Kevin Grambley, Town of Ridgway, Colorado
County Commissioner Sonja Macys, Routt County, Colorado
County Commissioner Angelica Salinas, Routt County, Colorado
County Commissioner Tim Redmond, Routt County, Colorado
Mayor Justin Critelli, City of Salida, Colorado
Council Member Joey Rovinsky, City of Salida, Colorado
Council Member Suzanne Fontana, City of Salida, Colorado
Council Member Shelley Schreiner, City of Salida, Colorado
Council Member Aaron Stephens, City of Salida, Colorado
Council Member Wayles Martin, City of Salida, Colorado
Council Member Alisa Pappenfort, City of Salida, Colorado
County Commissioner Scott Fetchenhier, San Juan County, Colorado
County Commissioner Lance Waring, San Miguel County, Colorado
County Commissioner Anne Brown, San Miguel County, Colorado
County Commissioner Galena Gleason, San Miguel County, Colorado
County Commissioner emeritus Art Goodtimes, San Miguel County, Colorado
Former Commissioner Linda Luther-Broderick, San Miguel County, Colorado
Council Member Jonnah D Glassman, Town of Silverthorne, Colorado
Council Member Susan Marolt, Town of Snowmass Village, Colorado
Council Member Britta Gustafson, Town of Snowmass Village, Colorado
President Pro Tem Gail Garey, City of Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Council Member John Agosta, City of Steamboat Springs, Colorado
County Commissioner Nina Waters, Summit County, Colorado
County Commissioner Eric Mamula, Summit County, Colorado
County Commissioner Tamara Pogue, Summit County, Colorado
Mayor Mark Lacis, Town of Superior, Colorado
Council Member Jenn Kaaoush, Town of Superior, Colorado
Council Member Neal Shah, Town of Superior, Colorado
Council Member Charles Dalton, Town of Telluride, Colorado
Council Member Marya Stark, Town of Telluride, Colorado
Council Member Kristen Permakoff, Town of Telluride, Colorado
Former Town Council Member Todd Brown, Town of Telluride, Colorado
Council Member Jonathan Staufer, Town of Vail, Colorado
Council Member Kim Langmaid, Town of Vail, Colorado
Mayor Nick Kutrumbos, Town of Winter Park, Colorado
Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Hughes, Town of Winter Park, Colorado
Council Member Rebecca Kaufman, Town of Winter Park, Colorado
Council Member Jeremy Henn, Town of Winter Park, Colorado
Council Member Michael Periolat, Town of Winter Park, Colorado
Council Member Bob Wright, Town of Winter Park, Colorado
Council Member Art Ferrari, Town of Winter Park, Colorado
County Commissioner Muffy Davis, Blaine County, Idaho
County Commissioner Angenie McCleary, Blaine County, Idaho
Mayor Lauren McLean, City of Boise, Idaho
City Council, President Kaz Thea, City of Hailey, Idaho
Council Member Dustin Stone, City of Hailey, Idaho
Council Member Tripp Charles Hutchinson, City of Ketchum, Idaho
Council Member Amy Aguirre, City of Billings, Montana
Mayor Joey Morrison, City of Bozeman, Montana
City Commissioner Emma Bode, City of Bozeman, Montana
City Commissioner Jennifer Madgic, City of Bozeman, Montana
Councilor, Ward 1 Eric Melson, City of Missoula, Montana
City Commissioner Shannon Wilson, City of Great Falls, Montana
Former Mayor Randy Gray, City of Great Falls, Montana
Assembly Majority Whip, Nevada State Legislature Howard Watts, Nevada
Nevada Assemblymember, District 18 Venicia Considine, Nevada
County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, Clark County, Nevada
City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
City Councilor Cassie McClure, City of Las Cruces, New Mexico
Council Member Becky Corran, City of Las Cruces, New Mexico
Supervisor Dona Ana Soil and Water Conservation District, DASWCD, Gill Sorg, Las Cruces, New Mexico
County Commissioner Hank Hughes, Santa Fe County, New Mexico
County Commissioner Camilla Bustamante, Santa Fe County, New Mexico
Former Santa Fe County Commissioner Anna Hansen, Santa Fe County, New Mexico
County Commissioner Darlene Vigil, Taos County, New Mexico
Council Member Darien Fernandez, Town of Taos, New Mexico
Council Member Genevieve Oswald, Town of Taos, New Mexico
Mayor Tonya Graham, City of Ashland, Oregon
Council Member Bob Kaplan, City of Ashland, Oregon
Mayor Melanie Kebler, City of Bend, Oregon
Council Member Ariel Mendez, City of Bend, Oregon
Council Member Mike Riley, City of Bend, Oregon
County Commissioner Phil Chang, Deschutes County, Oregon
Council Member Paul Tigan, City of Salem, Oregon
Former Mayor Harris Sondak, Town of Alta, Utah
Mayor Roger Bourke, Town of Alta, Utah
Council Member Pamela Gibson, Town of Castle Valley, Utah
Council Member Robert O’Brien, Town of Castle Valley, Utah
Mayor Gay Lynn Bennion, City of Cottonwood Heights, Utah
County Commissioner Trisha Hedin, Grand County, Utah
County Commissioner Jacques Hadler, Grand County, Utah
Former County Commissioner Kevin Walker, Grand County, Utah
Mayor Dustin Gettel, Midvale City, Utah
Former Council Member Kalen Jones, City of Moab, Utah
Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Salt Lake City, Utah
Mayor Barbara Bruno, Town of Springdale, Utah
Council Member Randy Aton, Town of Springdale, Utah
Former Council Member Louise Excell, Town of Springdale, Utah
County Councilor Megan McKenna, Summit County, Utah
County Councilor Tonja B. Hanson, Summit County, Utah
Council Member Sonia Hurt, City of Blaine, Washington
Mayor Sean Smith, City of Covington, Washington
Mayor Pro Tem Elizabeth Porter, City of Covington, Washington
Council Member Jennifer Harjehausen, City of Covington, Washington
Mayor Steven Yarbrough, City of Gold Bar, Washington
Mayor Carl Florea, City of Leavenworth, Washington
Council Member Zeke Reister, City of Leavenworth, Washington
Council Member Craig Reynolds, City of Mercer Island, Washington
Council Member Tami Beaumont, City of Monroe, Washington
County Council Chair, Jani Hitchen Pierce County, Washington
County Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour, Jefferson County, Washington
County Commissioner Len Carlman Teton County, Wyoming
County Commissioner Wes Gardner, Teton County, Wyoming