This week on The Wild Line, we’re tracking Oklahoma’s new energy-executive senator, a congressional push to block wilderness at Big Cypress National Preserve, a proposed federal land swap with SpaceX in South Texas, and major staff cuts at E&E News. From Capitol Hill to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, these stories highlight the accelerating pressure on federal public lands and the institutions that cover them.

🎧 Listen to the full episode for context, analysis, and what to watch next.

Oklahoma Appoints Energy Executive Alan Armstrong to U.S. Senate

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Alan Armstrong to the U.S. Senate this week, filling the seat vacated by Markwayne Mullin, who was confirmed as Secretary of Homeland Security. Armstrong spent more than three decades at Williams Companies, one of the nation’s largest natural gas pipeline operators, handling roughly a third of all U.S. natural gas volumes. He has signaled permitting reform as a top priority, arguing that large-scale infrastructure has become extremely difficult to build and that fixing this is critical to U.S. competitiveness.

Legislation Would Permanently Block Wilderness at Big Cypress National Preserve

Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott is pushing legislation that would permanently prohibit any wilderness designation at Big Cypress National Preserve, drawing opposition from more than two dozen conservation groups. Conservation groups argue that oil and gas operations and off-road vehicle use have caused significant damage, and that wilderness designation remains a vital protection tool — while emphasizing that any future process must respect tribal rights and access.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Weighs Land Swap with SpaceX in Lower Rio Grande Valley

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a land exchange with SpaceX involving hundreds of acres in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Under the proposed deal, 712 acres of refuge land would transfer to SpaceX, while 692 SpaceX-owned acres would enter federal ownership. The agency says the swap would improve habitat consolidation and benefit endangered species including the ocelot and aplomado falcon, but environmental advocates have pushed back, describing some of the land at stake as among the most ecologically significant remaining in the Rio Grande Valley. A public comment period is open—learn more and share your comments here.

Massachusetts Governor Backs Lifting Sunday Hunting Ban

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced her support this week for ending the state’s long-standing Sunday hunting ban, one of only two remaining in the United States. Healey framed the change as a matter of equity and practical wildlife management, noting it would allow working families greater access to hunt closer to home while giving wildlife managers additional tools.

E&E News Loses Roughly 25 Percent of Staff to Buyouts

E&E News, widely regarded as the essential publication for energy and environmental reporting, has seen roughly 25 percent of its staff accept management buyouts. For advocates, agency staff, and journalists who rely on E&E’s granular coverage to know what is actually happening in this space, the cuts represent a significant loss.

From the Wallace Stegner Center Symposium: A Call for a New Public Land Law Commission

At the Wallace Stegner Center’s 31st annual symposium, Harvard Law School’s Andrew Mergen made the case for Congress to establish a new public land law commission. With public lands now facing climate change, biodiversity loss, invasive species, recreation conflicts, and energy transition pressures, Mergen argues the moment calls for a similarly disciplined, broad-based national reckoning — one that could anchor future congressional decision-making in rigorous public process rather than piecemeal policy actions.

Wildfire Science and the Challenge of Communicating Risk

Also from the Stegner symposium, University of Utah climate scientist Bill Anderegg discussed the growing urgency of translating wildfire science into actionable public guidance. Anderegg identified key gaps in both physical and social science — from the need for better community-level wildfire risk models to the challenge of reaching people and communities with information they can act on.

Upcoming Event: Groundshift Panel on Reimagining Public Lands Management — April 2

Groundshift is hosting a free virtual panel, Reimagining Public Lands Management for the Future, on Thursday, April 2 from 3–4 p.m. Eastern. Speakers include former Deputy Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett, Latino Outdoors Executive Director Luis Villa, and PERC CEO Brian Yablonsky. The panel will address climate change, energy demand, recreation pressures, and federal funding cuts as they bear on the future of public land stewardship. Registration is free at this link.

Next Week

That’s our report for Mach 27, 2026.

We’ll be back next week with more land stories that matter.

Until then — Act Up and Run Wild.

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