The federal government is revising its public lands grazing regulations, aiming to boost cattle and sheep numbers across 155 million acres in the Western United States. This area, roughly twice the size of New Mexico, could see a significant increase in livestock grazing under these new rules.

Although rangeland experts argue that overgrazing has harmed public lands, the proposed changes would expand this practice rather than address environmental concerns, as ProPublica and High Country News have previously reported. The regulations also reduce public involvement in decision-making processes, limiting who can object to grazing permits and when.

A BLM employee working on rangeland management noted, “They’re clearly trying to reduce involvement of anyone other than ranchers.” This move away from community engagement is concerning given the potential ecological impacts. The updated rules mandate a broader study of public lands usage, including timber harvesting, mining and oil drilling, as opposed to just livestock.

The proposed regulations were released in May and will return to the BLM for further review after a period of public comment. Critics argue that this overhaul reflects the Trump administration’s focus on reducing regulatory burdens while promoting local economies, raising questions about environmental protection.