Opposition to the federal government's planned expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in Texas is increasing among landowners, community leaders, and elected officials. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in collaboration with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the New Mexico Game and Fish Department, announced a plan in April to expand the refuge from 6,440 acres to 700,000 acres.

The proposed expansion covers a seven million-acre area that includes 15 counties in Texas and five counties in New Mexico. U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington (R-19), who represents 14 of the affected counties in West Texas, has voiced his opposition to the plan. In a podcast aired on July 16th called "Talking Points with Jen Phillips" on KAMC Good Morning Lubbock, Rep. Arrington stated: “As the elected representative and Chairman of the (U.S.) House Budget Committee, I want to be clear, I oppose this federal land expansion; I oppose President Biden’s 30×30.”

Rep. Arrington emphasized his support for property rights but warned landowners about entering agreements with the federal government: “I’m a strong proponent of property rights, but once a landowner makes a deal with the devil, they can’t turn back the terms.” He also expressed concerns about conservation easements due to their permanent nature.

Former U.S. Representative Yvette Herrell from New Mexico also criticized the expansion plan in an Op-Ed published in the New Mexico Sun: “It will eliminate a portion of every local community tax base, reduce oil and mineral production in our state, and cheat private property owners out of future economic opportunities on the lands they have lived and worked on – in some cases for generations.”

American Stewards is organizing a landowner's meeting featuring State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller along with local leaders from Texas and New Mexico on Thursday, July 25th at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Lamb County Agriculture Building on East 7th Street in Littlefield, Texas.