The Shutdown’s Impacts on National Parks and Public Lands Offer a Preview of Trump’s Long-Term Vision ArticleOctober 28, 2025 The Shutdown’s Impacts on National Parks and Public Lands Offer a Preview of Trump’s Long-Term Vision Before and during the government shutdown, the Trump administration has pushed an agenda to sell out America’s public lands for drilling and mining while gutting the funding, staff, and policies necessary to steward those lands for future generations. Oct 28, 2025 Drew McConville
Shelby Semmes and Drew McConville: How Vermonters can lead as Washington backslides on conservation In the NewsSeptember 24, 2025 Shelby Semmes and Drew McConville: How Vermonters can lead as Washington backslides on conservation Shelby Semmes and Drew McConville write in VTDigger about how Vermont can take the lead on conservation. Sep 24, 2025 VTDigger Shelby Semmes, Drew McConville
The Trump Administration’s Expansive Push to Sell Out Public Lands to the Highest Bidder ReportSeptember 22, 2025 The Trump Administration’s Expansive Push to Sell Out Public Lands to the Highest Bidder After bipartisan opposition forced Senate Republicans to remove language from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that would have sold off public lands, the Trump administration is still moving forward with proposals to transfer control over tens of millions of acres of public land to the oil and gas, mining, and timber industries. Sep 22, 2025 Drew McConville, Mariel Lutz, Jenny Rowland-Shea
8 Ways the Senate Budget Bill Is More Extreme Than the House-Passed Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill ArticleJune 24, 2025 8 Ways the Senate Budget Bill Is More Extreme Than the House-Passed Big, ‘Beautiful’ Bill Many have assumed that the House of Representatives’ One Big, Beautiful Bill Act would be moderated by Senate counterparts. However, the Senate’s proposed cuts to health care and food assistance—along with the potential sell-off of public lands and changes to make it easier to buy guns—are more extreme. Jun 24, 2025 Lily Roberts, Natasha Murphy, Kyle Ross, 2 More Drew McConville, Nick Wilson
What To Know About the Senate’s Public Lands Sell-Off ArticleJune 18, 2025 What To Know About the Senate’s Public Lands Sell-Off Among other damaging proposals, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a controversial plan to sell off public lands to pay for billionaire tax breaks. Jun 18, 2025 Drew McConville
See Them While You Can: Trump’s Policies Threaten America’s National Parks and Public Lands ArticleMay 28, 2025 See Them While You Can: Trump’s Policies Threaten America’s National Parks and Public Lands By selling out national parks and other public lands, the Trump administration is endangering some of America’s great travel destinations. May 28, 2025 Sam Zeno, Drew McConville
Congress’ Tax Bill Is Selling Out America’s Public Lands and Waters ArticleMay 6, 2025 Congress’ Tax Bill Is Selling Out America’s Public Lands and Waters The tax bill would now include the largest sellout of public lands by Congress in modern U.S. history. May 6, 2025 Jenny Rowland-Shea, Drew McConville
A reckless sale of public lands won’t solve the housing crisis ArticleMay 2, 2025 A reckless sale of public lands won’t solve the housing crisis In an op-ed published by The Hill, Drew McConville explains why selling off our public lands is a slippery slope and a poor answer to the housing crisis. May 2, 2025 The Hill Drew McConville
Will the U.S. Housing Crisis Be Exploited for a Massive Public Lands Sell-Off? ReportApril 10, 2025 Will the U.S. Housing Crisis Be Exploited for a Massive Public Lands Sell-Off? Some politicians are using the nation’s housing affordability problems as a pretense to sell off public lands—an extreme agenda that puts America’s treasured lands and waters at risk without substantively addressing housing needs. A new initiative from the Trump administration publicly promises restraint, while specific proposals from Capitol Hill tell a different story. Apr 10, 2025 Drew McConville, Doug Turner
America’s Park and Forest Rangers Are Being Fired, and Oil and Gas Bosses Are Now in Charge ArticleMarch 3, 2025 America’s Park and Forest Rangers Are Being Fired, and Oil and Gas Bosses Are Now in Charge Early impacts of Elon Musk and his team’s purge of the federal workforce are already hitting America’s parks and public lands, while oil and gas industry loyalists shift remaining government resources to prioritize corporate profits. Mar 3, 2025 Drew McConville, Sam Zeno
8 Ways Special Interests Are Asking President-Elect Trump To Sell Out U.S. Public Lands ReportJanuary 16, 2025 8 Ways Special Interests Are Asking President-Elect Trump To Sell Out U.S. Public Lands Corporate insiders have shamelessly lined up a suite of proposals to enrich themselves at the expense of American families and future generations. President-elect Trump will soon make his choice: reject these bad ideas or sell out America’s parks and public lands on the cheap. Jan 16, 2025 Drew McConville, Jenny Rowland-Shea
A Below-the-Radar Public Lands Decision With Big Implications for Alaska Native Communities ReportJune 21, 2024 A Below-the-Radar Public Lands Decision With Big Implications for Alaska Native Communities A pending decision by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland for 28 million acres of public lands could be one of the Biden administration’s biggest conservation and Indigenous rights wins. Jun 21, 2024 Drew McConville, Alia Hidayat
State-level conservation action sparks hope for nature In the NewsApril 30, 2024 State-level conservation action sparks hope for nature In Route Fifty, CAP's Drew McConville and NCEL's Kate Burgess write about state-level policies to prevent nature loss. Apr 30, 2024 Route Fifty Drew McConville, Kate Burgess
5 Early Takeaways From the Biden Administration’s Conservation Atlas ArticleApril 22, 2024 5 Early Takeaways From the Biden Administration’s Conservation Atlas The Biden administration has released long-awaited metrics for U.S. land and water conservation that show national progress made toward ambitious “30x30” goals; but there’s also a deeper story to explore about the path ahead for ocean and land protection as well as the value and limits of numeric targets. Apr 22, 2024 Drew McConville, Angelo Villagomez
New Public Lands Actions Turn the Page on Decades of Conflict and Mismanagement ReportApril 19, 2024 New Public Lands Actions Turn the Page on Decades of Conflict and Mismanagement Complementary new policies from the Biden administration will ensure conservation, energy development, and recreation go hand in hand. Apr 19, 2024 Drew McConville
State Policy Leadership To Conserve Nature ReportApril 11, 2024 State Policy Leadership To Conserve Nature As momentum builds nationally to address the nature and climate crises, state and territorial leaders across the country have stepped up with a variety of measures aimed at conserving lands and waters. Apr 11, 2024 Drew McConville, Kate Burgess, Mariel Lutz
Protecting Vulnerable Public Lands Could Address U.S. Outdoor Recreation Needs ReportSeptember 20, 2023 Protecting Vulnerable Public Lands Could Address U.S. Outdoor Recreation Needs New analysis illustrates how the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed Public Lands Rule and related conservation actions can help bridge the nature gap for underserved communities and meet surging demand for parks and outdoor recreation. Sep 20, 2023 Drew McConville, Sam Zeno
New law gives Vermonters a chance to build a conservation vision In the NewsJune 26, 2023 New law gives Vermonters a chance to build a conservation vision Drew McConville explains how a new conservation law in Vermont could make the state a leader in the national and global effort to combat the loss of nature and biodiversity. Jun 26, 2023 VTDigger Drew McConville
What Biden’s Proposed Conservation Rule Would Mean for America’s Most Vulnerable Public Lands ReportJune 14, 2023 What Biden’s Proposed Conservation Rule Would Mean for America’s Most Vulnerable Public Lands The Biden administration has proposed a new rule requiring America’s largest manager of public lands—the Bureau of Land Management—to improve how it conserves nature for current and future generations. Jun 14, 2023 Drew McConville, Kara Matsumoto
Why Conservation Leasing on Public Lands Is a Win-Win for Renewables and Wildlife ReportJune 1, 2023 Why Conservation Leasing on Public Lands Is a Win-Win for Renewables and Wildlife A proposed tool included in the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule would allow more efficient and responsible deployment of clean energy projects while benefiting U.S. lands, waters, and wildlife. Jun 1, 2023 Drew McConville
Why the Farm Bill May Be the Highest-Stakes Climate Fight Flying Below the Radar ReportMay 25, 2023 Why the Farm Bill May Be the Highest-Stakes Climate Fight Flying Below the Radar Major climate and conservation gains hang in the balance as Congress reauthorizes the expiring farm bill; passing strong legislation that builds on historic investments from the Inflation Reduction Act is critical for the United States to lead the world on climate-smart agriculture and meet national land conservation goals. May 25, 2023 Drew McConville, Jasia Smith, Mariel Lutz
After Getting Willow Project Wrong, Biden Must Get These Climate and Public Lands Decisions Right ArticleMarch 17, 2023 After Getting Willow Project Wrong, Biden Must Get These Climate and Public Lands Decisions Right President Biden and his team must cement new protections for U.S. lands and waters, secure additional climate progress, and prevent bad decisions such as the Willow project from happening again. Mar 17, 2023 Drew McConville, Jenny Rowland-Shea
Why Conserving 30×30 Is More Than a Numbers Game ArticleJanuary 31, 2023 Why Conserving 30×30 Is More Than a Numbers Game Two years after the establishment of America’s first national conservation goal, it’s time to stop debating what “counts” and focus on action. Jan 31, 2023 Drew McConville, Angelo Villagomez
Executive Action vs. the Nature Crisis: Top 8 Opportunities President Biden Should Pursue To Meet His America the Beautiful Commitment ReportNovember 22, 2022 Executive Action vs. the Nature Crisis: Top 8 Opportunities President Biden Should Pursue To Meet His America the Beautiful Commitment President Joe Biden committed to putting the United States on a path to conserve 30 percent of its lands and waters by 2030; here are eight major opportunities he must pursue immediately to achieve this goal. Nov 22, 2022 Drew McConville, Michael Freeman, Sam Zeno, 4 More Ryan Richards, Angelo Villagomez, Jenny Rowland-Shea, Nicole Gentile