The Department of the Interior is seeking public input on a proposal to update livestock grazing management on public lands, according to a June 1 announcement. The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule aims to provide ranchers with more flexibility, improve rangeland health, and support rural communities in the western United States.
The proposal aligns with the Trump administration’s goal to reduce regulatory burdens, promote productive working lands, and strengthen local economies. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said, “For too long, ranchers and land managers have been forced to work under outdated rules that do not match today’s challenges. President Trump has made it clear that we must cut red tape, support the people who feed our nation, and ensure our public lands remain healthy for future generations. These updates will help us do exactly that.”
Key actions in the proposed rule include streamlining grazing administration and expanding rangeland health standards. The Bureau plans to update definitions, simplify processes, and clarify regulatory language so ranchers can respond more quickly to changing conditions. Rangeland health standards would continue assessing land health but would be broadened for all programs managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The last significant update to grazing regulations occurred in 1995; a 2006 revision was blocked in court, leaving current rules unchanged for decades. As part of a 60-day comment period for this new proposal, the Bureau will host a virtual information session on June 11 from 5-7 p.m. Mountain Time via Microsoft Teams video conferencing. The comment period closes July 13.
Earlier this month, the Department rescinded the BLM’s Public Lands Rule—formally known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule—reaffirming its commitment to restoring balance in federal land management by prioritizing multiple use access and supporting activities such as energy development, ranching, timber production, recreation, and local decision making.