Risch, Crapo, Simpson, Fulcher Celebrate Reversal of Biden-era Public Lands Rule

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and U.S. Representatives Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher today released the following statements upon the Trump administration's reversal of a Biden-era Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rule. The public lands rule violated the legal mandate for managing public lands for multiple-uses like grazing, timber production, mining, and energy development and blocked access to federal lands.

"Multiple use is a legal requirement, not a suggestion. Today, President Trump and Secretary Burgum have returned common sense to the management of our public lands," said Risch. "Restoring Idaho's access to our public lands for long-standing multiple uses like recreation, grazing, energy production, and mineral development will result in conservation without impeding or replacing the productivity on our public lands."

"Public lands provide a range of benefits to the lives of Idahoans and other Westerners. The BLM rule finalized under the previous Administration circumvented Congress and empowered special interest groups over those who live, work and recreate on these lands," said Crapo. "President Trump and Secretary Burgum are once again restoring commonsense policies with regard to federal land management."

"Reversing the harmful Biden-era Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, which locked up millions of acres of our nation's public lands, is long overdue. I am grateful that President Trump listened to Idahoans and those from the West who cherish the concept of multiple use on public lands," said Simpson. "As Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I appreciate President Trump and Secretary Burgum for their leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with the Trump administration to support the very people who rely on our federal lands for ranching, grazing, recreation, and much more."

"I applaud President Trump's action to rescind the Biden-era Bureau of Land Management's Conservation and Landscape Health rule-an effort I have been spearheading in the House through the WEST Act. This rule would have effectively locked up millions of acres across the U.S. that countless families and businesses have relied on for grazing, ranching, and recreation for generations. The administration's move to roll back this regulation protects the way of life for Americans across the West and preserves Congress's intent of multiple-use on public lands," said Fulcher.

Senator Risch has led the Idaho delegation in urging the BLM to withdraw the proposed Public Lands Rule and introduced legislation to block the rule.

Permalink: https://www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2025/9/risch-crapo-simpson-fulcher-celebrate-reversal-of-biden-era-public-lands-rule