Trump Administration Advances 80% of Project 2025 Public Land Goals

The Trump administration has moved forward with over 80% of the public land priorities outlined in Project 2025, despite President Donald Trump‘s earlier disavowal of the initiative during his campaign. This information is detailed in a new report from the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation advocacy organization based in Colorado. The report examines 70 directives related to public lands from Project 2025, revealing that approximately 50% have been fully implemented, while 34.3% are currently in progress and 15.7% have not yet been addressed.

Project 2025, crafted in 2022 by the Heritage Foundation, serves as a strategic blueprint for a potential second term under Trump. Despite his claims to the contrary, the report suggests that the administration’s actions indicate a significant alignment with the roadmap’s objectives, particularly in regards to public land management.

During a debate on September 10, 2024, Trump stated, “I have nothing to do with Project 2025,” asserting he had not read the document and had no intention of doing so. Yet, Kate Groetzinger, communications manager at the Center for Western Priorities, remarked, “The speed with which President Trump has embraced a plan he once claimed to know nothing about is staggering.” She criticized the administration for accelerating logging, fast-tracking drilling leases, and significantly altering federal land management policies.

Key Directives and Implementation

Project 2025 outlines a number of actions aimed at reversing policies from the Biden administration, focusing on increasing domestic energy production, particularly in Alaska, and reforming key environmental statutes such as the National Environmental Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act. The majority of the directives pertain to the Department of the Interior, including its various subagencies like the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and others.

William Perry Pendley, who led the Bureau of Land Management during Trump’s first term, authored the recommendations for the Interior Department. He previously criticized the Biden administration, claiming it was at odds with the mission of managing federal lands. The report underscores that nearly 70% of the recommendations related to fossil fuels have already been implemented or are in progress, with significant emphasis on streamlining environmental reviews.

The Center for Western Priorities highlighted that actions aimed at increasing fossil fuel production began immediately at the start of Trump’s second term. An executive order was issued to “unleash” domestic energy resources, followed by a February directive that rescinded many Biden-era climate initiatives, effectively eliminating what the administration termed “undue burdens” on energy production.

Ongoing Challenges and Future Implications

While the report indicates significant advancement in some areas, it notes that protections for public lands have seen the least implementation, with less than 20% of recommendations fully enacted. However, nearly 70% of these directives are reported to be in progress. Key proposed changes include attempts to rescind the BLM Public Lands Rule and the Roadless Rule, as well as diverting funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Despite these developments, public backlash persists. A proposal from Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) to sell up to 3 million acres of public land was defeated due to bipartisan opposition, underscoring a strong public sentiment against privatization of federal lands.

As President Trump continues to implement the directives of Project 2025, the Center for Western Priorities warns that the future of public lands hangs in the balance. Groetzinger concluded, “If the Trump administration and Heritage Foundation have their way, our public lands will be effectively privatized by the end of Trump’s presidency in 2028.” The ongoing struggle over public land management reflects deeper tensions regarding environmental policy and resource management in the United States.