PUBLIC LANDS RULE


The Public Lands Rule improves the management of our public lands, empowering the Bureau of Land Management to focus management on the needs of the lands where they work. Rescinding the Public Lands Rule will rip authority from local land managers to place it in the hands of D.C. bureaucrats whose main goal is to sell our public lands to the highest bidder. All this in opposition to the overwhelming support for our public lands and their protection.


-Sandra Schubert, Tuleyome Executive Director



The Public Lands Rule protects our treasured, multi-use landscapes so they'll be there tomorrow, recognizing conservation as a type of land use. Backed by decades of science and experience, the rule gives land managers tools to maintain our public lands, ensure access, and protect our resources while supporting the diverse ways that communities depend on public lands.

What's Happening:


The current administration is directing the elimination of the  public lands rule. This elimination will come with several possible consequences:



  • Local control lost: authority will be taken from local land managers and given to federal officials
  • Value short-term profit over long-term sustainability: encourages extraction and land sales instead of conservation
  • Rural communities harmed: land degradation hurts farmers and small towns
  • Environmental damage: overused lands, degraded grasslands, and contaminated watersheds take decades to recover

American people want and support the Public Lands Rule. The Rule has overwhelming support. When given the chance to comment on the Public Lands Rule, more than 150,000 Americans did – 92% in support. When ranchers, recreationists, and resource companies all depend on the same lands, we recognize that we must use them responsibly to ensure they stay productive for everyone.

In the West, Bureau of Land Management lands aren’t just scenery—they’re economic engines. Outdoor recreation alone on BLM lands supports 26,500 jobs and over $1 billion in wages, according to a 2023 Pew study. Overall, BLM-managed lands contribute more than $11 billion annually to the U.S. economy—most of that impact concentrated in Western states.


Repealing the Public Lands Rule would shift priorities away from long-term stewardship and recreation, toward short-term industrial extraction—damaging the very ecosystems and landscapes that attract people and investment to the West.


The choice is clear: Protect our public lands for current and future generations, or consume everything now and leave nothing behind. Without the Public Lands Rule, our cherished landscapes lose protection and one of our greatest treasures, our public lands, is at risk.

TAKE ACTION NOW

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Comment Period is Closed

The comment period ends at 8:59 PM Pacific Time! Submit your comments supporting the Public Lands Rule immediately.


Sign on to Tuleyome's letter below or draft your personalized comments and submit to Secretary Rollins on the Federal Register.


For more information on how to participate in the public comment process, contact Tuleyome Policy Director Bryan Pride.

Sample Letter

I’m writing to urge you to keep the Public Lands Rule in place. This rule is a vital step forward in how our public lands are managed—ensuring that conservation, recreation, cultural resources and watershed health are considered alongside other uses like energy development and grazing.


The Public Lands Rule gives the BLM essential tools to restore degraded landscapes, protect wildlife habitat, safeguard migration corridors, and respond to the growing threats of drought, wildfire, and climate change. It reflects a balanced, science-based approach to land management that is long overdue.


I support the Public Lands Rule because it recognizes that our public lands should be managed for more than just immediate extractive value. They provide long-term support to local economies, preserve cultural and natural heritage, and offer recreational and spiritual opportunities to millions of Americans.


The rule also responds to what people across the country—including Tribal governments, rural communities, and public land users—have consistently asked for: smarter, more transparent, and more balanced decision-making. It received overwhelming public support during its development, and rescinding it now would ignore the will of the people and undermine years of public engagement.


America’s public lands are national treasures, and their stewardship requires a thoughtful, forward-looking approach. Please uphold the Public Lands Rule and ensure that our lands remain healthy, resilient, and accessible for generations to come.

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