by Public Lands Council

Shutdown: Week 2

The government continues to have limited operations due to the lapse in funding for Fiscal Year 2026. House Speaker Johnson has committed that the House will remain in recess until the shutdown ends, leaving the obligation on the Senate to come to a funding compromise. The Senate voted again this week on a bill to fund the government, but the measure failed to garner enough votes to pass.

PLC continues to work with federal agencies to address shutdown-related impacts as they arise. If you are experiencing issues related to the shutdown, contact us. 

Senate confirmed Michael Boren to be Undersecretary of Ag for the Natural Resources and Environment.

On Tuesday, October 7, the Senate confirmed Michael Boren to be Undersecretary of Ag for the Natural Resources and Environment and Dr. Ned Mamula to be Director of United States Geological Survey. 

PLC supports these nominations and is excited to have their knowledge and experience at the NRE and USGS. Michael Boren is a rancher from Idaho and has previously worked in the Forest Service.

ONE MONTH LEFT: Support Recission of BLM Public Lands Rule

After successful advocacy from PLC, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a proposed rule to rescind the highly-contested Public Lands Rule, also known as the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, from the Biden administration. 

PLC led a coalition of more than 60 other groups to highlight concerns that the rule not only was unlawful but also circumvented Congress’ direction to the BLM. PLC also rallied other multiple use groups, activating outdoor recreation, OHV users, and even those conservation groups who would have been excluded from activities on public land. Ultimately, PLC and our partners sued the BLM in 2024 to stop implementation of the rule. This proposed rule is the first step in ensuring that the rule will not facilitate removal of grazing from public lands and that the long-held expectation of balanced multiple-use management will continue.

The comment period will close Monday, November 10, 2025, so be sure to tell the BLM you support withdrawing the rule! Comment now by clicking here.