Trump Administration Delays $287M Land Conservation Projects Nationwide

Federal land conservation projects across southern Idaho and nationwide, including expansions to the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge and Craters of the Moon National Monument, are stalled due to the Trump administration's decision to withhold $287 million in congressionally approved funding. These delays impact a program that President Donald Trump had previously supported with significant investments, comparing himself to conservation icon Theodore Roosevelt. The funding, sourced from offshore oil and gas lease revenues via the Land and Water Conservation Fund, aims to enhance hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation opportunities. Conservation advocates express concern that the stalled projects may not be completed before the federal fiscal year ends, risking private land sales to commercial developers and jeopardizing preservation efforts. Despite President Trump's initial conservation commitments, the administration's current withholding of funds threatens to undermine these efforts and the protection of natural areas for future generations. Calls for clarity and decisive action continue as the fate of these projects remains uncertain.