Representatives Ciscomani, Titus and Cohen Introduce Bipartisan Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani and two congressional colleagues are leading a bipartisan effort aimed at establishing humane policies to care for and manage two iconic animals of the American West, wild horses and burros.

Ciscomani and Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada, co-chairs of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, were joined last week by Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee in the introduction of H.R. 4356, the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025. The bill would eliminate the use of helicopters in rounding up wild horses and burros, and require a study into alternative methods for humanely gathering the animals, including workforce opportunities for traditional cowboys.

"For too long, wild horses and burros have been subjected to dangerous, cruel and costly roundups that often result in the death of the animal," Ciscomani said. "As an Arizonan and co-chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, I'm proud to support this common sense, bipartisan legislation that would eliminate the use of helicopters during Bureau of Land Management roundups and encourage more humane and cost-effective alternatives to manage these iconic animals."

In efforts to control equine populations, the Bureau of Land Management is currently directed to "humanely capture" wild free-roaming horses and burros and set them up for adoption. To assist in the capture, the BLM contracts with private helicopter companies to pursue the horses and burros over long distances, which can be frightening and even deadly to the animals.

Between 2020 and 2024, these roundup practices have cost taxpayers at least $36.7 million, including over $6 million paid to helicopter roundup contractors in fiscal year 2022 alone. Scientific research has shown that more humane and cost-effective alternatives, like fertility control, are equally effective in controlling equine populations. The BLM currently spends less than four percent of its budget on these methods.

"Nevada is home to more wild horses than any other state in our country. Tragically, these animals are subjected to taxpayer-funded helicopter roundups and removals that are all too often costly, ineffective, and inhumane," said Rep. Titus (D-NV). "My legislation would eliminate the use of helicopters in BLM wild horse gathers and require a report to explore the benefits of alternative methods for humanely gathering horses and the workforce opportunities for traditional cowboys. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan proposal that would protect these icons of the American West which remain a source of pride for Nevada residents."

Rep. Cohen(D-TN) stated. "As one of the founding co-Chairs of the Wild Horse and Burro Caucus, I'm pleased to co-lead the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act to improve accountability and transparency of how these icons of the West are managed by the Bureau of Land Management."

"The Bureau of Land Management is charged with humanely managing our nation's federally protected wild horses, yet every year we see horrific fatalities during helicopter roundups - from wild mustangs running for their lives on broken legs to foals dying from exhaustion," said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., equine program director for the Animal Welfare Institute."Taxpayer dollars should not be funding this abject cruelty. We are grateful to Reps. Titus, Cohen, and Ciscomani for their leadership on this critical bill that would end the use of helicopter roundups and prioritize a more sustainable, humane path forward."

"We commend Representative Dina Titus for her leadership in introducing the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025. This bill is a critical step toward ending the cruel and unnecessary use of helicopters in wild horse roundups and bringing long-overdue transparency to the Bureau of Land Management's operations through immediate implementation of onboard cameras," said Suzanne Roy, executive director of American Wild Horse Conservation. "The American public overwhelmingly supports humane, accountable management of our iconic wild herds, and this legislation delivers just that."

"Having spent years documenting wild horses across the vast American West-these are icons of our nation that deserve to be cherished and protected," said Ashley Avis, founder of The Wild Beauty Foundation and director of the Oscar-contending documentary WILD BEAUTY: Mustang Spirit of the West. "I have also witnessed the harrowing reality of helicopter roundups, where these highly intelligent animals are stampeded for miles. There is nothing ethical about the way this is conducted. I applaud Representative Titus, Representative Cohen, and Representative Ciscomani for continuing to fight for these fast-disappearing symbols of freedom-so that every generation of Americans has the chance to see them, wild and free."

The Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025has been endorsed by the Animal Welfare Institute, the American Wild Horse Conservation, and Wild Beauty Foundation.

To read the full bill text of H.R. 4356, the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025, click here.

Congressman Juan Ciscomani is proud to have launched the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus earlier this year alongside Reps. David Schweikert (AZ-01), Dina Titus (NV-03), and Steve Cohen (TN-09) to champion the protection of one of America's most iconic species. The caucus is committed to advancing humane and responsible policies to ensure the long-term care and management of wild horses and burros. Congressman Ciscomani has been a tireless advocate for these majestic animals and remains deeply committed to preserving their place on our public lands for generations to come.

Read more about the launch of the caucus here.

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