Interior Secretary Doug Burgum orders expansion of federal grazing access

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has signed an order titled “Supporting America’s Ranchers Through Resilient Rangelands” to expand livestock grazing opportunities on federally managed lands. The directive aims to reduce regulatory burdens and address permitting backlogs across Department of the Interior bureaus.

Key provisions include prioritizing the processing of vacant allotment applications, expediting permit renewals for a full 10-year term, and reinstating suspended or inactive grazing allotments where appropriate. The order also directs agencies to use livestock grazing as a tool to improve rangeland health, control invasive species, and mitigate wildfire risks by reducing fuel loads. Additionally, the order suggests that livestock grazing should be permitted on wildlife refuges and calls for policy reviews regarding livestock protection from predators.

The order establishes several deadlines: the Bureau of Land Management must designate a Rangeland Health Initiative Lead within five days, and various agencies must identify potential grazing lands and produce a public map within 30 days. The Bureau of Land Management is also required to submit a plan to eliminate its permit renewal backlog within 60 days.