Today, the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the rescission of the Biden administration’s onerous so-called “Public Lands Rule” (Rule). Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) issued the following statement in response:

"The rescission of the Biden administration’s so-called Public Lands Rule is a major victory for rural and Western America. This action unlocks resource-rich lands for key uses such as energy production, mining, grazing, timber and outdoor recreation. Today’s announcement also keeps the food, fuel and fiber produced on federal lands affordable for Americans across the country. I thank President Trump and Secretary Burgum for restoring commonsense multiple-use land management by promoting responsible stewardship and production of American resources and creating jobs in rural communities."

Background

The BLM manages 245 million acres of public lands, most of which are located in Western states. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the BLM's mission is guided by a multiple-use and sustained yield mandate. These uses include livestock grazing, energy and mineral development, timber production, outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat and watershed protection. 

These uses coexist on BLM lands, and resource conservation efforts occur alongside responsible development and active land management. Access to BLM lands and their multiple uses remains central to the economies and livelihoods of many rural communities across the West. 

In April 2024, the Biden administration finalized a rule that threatened the longstanding multiple-use framework that governs BLM lands. In response, the House passed the WEST Act of 2024 to prohibit implementation of the so-called Rule. In September 2025, DOI proposed the rescission, beginning the process of restoring certainty and common sense to public land management.