Senate Draft Targets Millions of Acres, DOJ Clears Monument Rollbacks

This week on The Wild Line, we dive into the latest updates from the Department of Justice, look at Senate drafts impacting public lands and forests, and talk about youth efforts on behalf of Bigfoot, as well as a handful of other important topics. It’s been a big week for wilderness spaces—here’s what you may have missed.

DOJ Clears the Way for Monument Rollbacks

The Department of Justice issued a new legal opinion that could allow the Trump administration to shrink or eliminate National Monument designations made by past presidents. The opinion overturns a 1938 interpretation that had long held such authority was off limits. Axie Navas of The Wilderness Society joins us to unpack what this means for protected lands across the country.  Read the legal opinion HERE.

Yosemite Curbs Climber Protests

The National Park Service updated Yosemite’s Superintendent’s Compendium to ban banners larger than 15 square feet on the park’s iconic walls. The change comes after climbers unfurled flags protesting Israel’s war in Gaza and supporting trans rights. Violators could face fines up to $10,000 and six months in jail. The Park cited the Wilderness Act as justification, noting that 94% of Yosemite is designated Wilderness and must be managed in an “unimpaired” state.

Senate Eyes Mass Public Land Disposal

New draft reconciliation language from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee proposes selling off between 2 and 3 million acres of BLM and National Forest lands. The plan targets 11 Western states, prioritizes state and local nominations, excludes tribes, and offers only short-term land use restrictions. Read the Energy and Natural Resources Committee Reconciliation Title Section-by-Section Summary HERE.

Mandatory Logging Increases for Forest Service and BLM

The same Senate draft mandates an annual increase of 250 million board feet from the Forest Service and 20 million from the BLM, totaling more than 11 billion board feet over the next decade. It also pushes for long-term timber contracts with revenue going directly to the Treasury. Read the Energy and Natural Resources Committee Reconciliation Title Section-by-Section Summary HERE.

A New Federal Wildfire Agency?

Montana Senator Tim Sheehy’s proposal to create a standalone “Federal Wildland Fire Service” is gaining traction. An Executive Order could be imminent. Experts warn this move could undo the integrated approach to fire and land management developed over decades.

UPDATE: Shortly after recording, on June 12, 2025, a formal Executive Order titled “Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response” was signed. It directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to consolidate their wildland fire programs within 90 days, effectively creating a standalone Federal Wildland Fire Service under Interior. It also mandates expanded federal support for state and local wildfire preparedness and assigns the Defense Department to prioritize surplus aircraft for firefighting efforts. Read the Executive Order HERE.

Forest Service Floats a Land Transfer Plan

Buried in the FY2026 budget proposal is a new initiative to transfer federal lands—starting with former Civilian Conservation Center sites—to willing states and Tribes. While details remain vague, the move raises red flags in the context of broader land sale efforts.

Bigfoot Gets a Refuge

In Clark County, Washington, fifth graders successfully petitioned the county to designate the entire area a protective refuge for Bigfoot. The resolution cites the creature’s elusive nature as reason to preserve wild landscapes. Read the student’s letter HERE and the County Resolution HERE. 

Grassroots Spotlight: Save the Boundary Waters

We kick off a new segment featuring advocates taking their message to Washington. This week: Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters, , describes a whiplash week on Capitol Hill—fighting to remove dangerous mining provisions from the House and Senate reconciliation drafts, only to see the administration signal a reversal via tweet as she boarded her flight home.

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Next Week on The Wild Idea:

Tuesday, June 17th –  We sit down with Tracy Stone-Manning, longtime public lands advocate and current President of The Wilderness Society. She talks candidly about leading the Bureau of Land Management, navigating political whiplash, and why she believes protecting wild places now depends as much on public pressure as on policy. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about power, legacy, and what comes next for 245 million acres of public land.

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