To the Editor:

What is the DOI? The DOI protects and manages the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage. This includes oversight and management of Public lands and minerals, national parks and wildlife refuges, endangered species conservation, environmental conservation, marine conservation extending to the outer continental shelf as well as upholding federal trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and Native Alaskans.

Simply put, DOI safeguards our public lands for the generations to come. The Antiquities Act of 1906, set down the framework for this and includes the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Project 2025, maps out a plan to gut the DOI, allowing the government to turn some of our most scenic and important public lands over to energy extraction interests. Initially a case will be brought to the Supreme Court to weaken the Antiquities Act and secondly placing leadership who would control the DOI with the goal of selling or leasing large tracts of land to energy companies.

“During his three-plus years in the White House, Donald Trump has orchestrated the largest reduction of public lands in U.S. history, according to a study published in Science, an academic journal…The Trump administration has worked to weaken safeguards for nearly 35million acres – nearly 1,000 times more than the administration has protected.” David Lien,Cochair, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

Project 2025’s vision is a significant departure from current policies, emphasizing energy dominance and raises questions about the future of public lands and environmental protection. Specific proposals include expanding on shore and offshore oil and gas lease sales, restarting the federal coal leasing program and reversing protection for
National Forest, Park and Monument lands. These efforts would undermine efforts to combat climate change and lead to over exploitation of public lands.

The risks for America’s public lands and natural heritage could not be higher.

Donna Goodridge
Greenwood

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