Trump Administration Halts Major Expansion of Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in West Texas

Muleshoe, Texas — In a surprising pivot, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has officially withdrawn the Land Protection Plan (LPP) that would have allowed the expansion of the historic Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge from approximately 6,400 acres to up to 700,000 acres across West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.

Background & Administration Rationale

• The Trump administration’s reversal follows Executive Order 14154 (“Unleashing American Energy”), complemented by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum’s Secretary’s Order 3418, which prioritized energy development, agricultural expansion, and reduced regulatory burdens over the proposed land expansion.

• The withdrawal, published in the Federal Register on July 31, officially halts any land acquisitions, funding requests, or acquisition proposals tied to the LPP.

Reactions from Stakeholders

• Supporters of the decision, such as Rep. Jodey Arrington (R‑TX), hailed the move as a victory for private property rights and local tax bases. Arrington warned that the LPP threatened critical agricultural land and economic stability for rural communities.

• Critics, including Stephanie Kurose of the Center for Biological Diversity, called the reversal “shortsighted and just plain unwise,” arguing that the original plan emerged from extensive research and voluntary collaboration with landowners.

• Environmental advocates like Defenders of Wildlife emphasized the plan’s importance for conserving imperiled species such as the lesser prairie-chicken, sandhill crane, and pronghorn. They warned that the withdrawal undermines decades of conservation planning.

Summary Table

• Conservation organizations should explore alternate strategies—such as conservation easements or partnerships—to safeguard habitat in the Southern High Plains.

• Lawmakers and policymakers must weigh short-term economic gains against long-term environmental and ecological resilience.

• Local communities and landowners need transparent engagement and support in managing landscapes amid shifting federal priorities.