All Episodes

May 23, 2025 9 mins

This week, we’re breaking down a sweeping federal budget package passed by the House on May 22 and what it means for America’s public lands, waters, and environmental protections.

In this episode:

  • The public lands sell-offs we stopped — and how grassroots action made it happen.

  • How deep staffing cuts at the National Park Service and Forest Service are hollowing out essential public lands operations just ahead of peak season.

  • The quiet but relentless expansion of fossil fuel development on public lands, with new oil and gas lease sales announced in North Dakota, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and New Mexico.

  • Changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and old-growth forest protections that fast-track extraction projects and sideline public oversight.

  • A dangerous new directive threatening free, honest historical interpretation within the National Park Service.

Plus:

  • A small but important win at Mount Rainier National Park with the rollout of a limited timed-entry system.

  • Alarming impacts of agency consolidation in Alaska, where the National Park Service regional office has lost a third of its workforce.

Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)


Episode Resources:

https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/5/22/land-sell-offs-removed-from-spending-bill-but-its-still-bad 

https://www.npca.org/articles/8891-house-advances-budget-bill-reducing-national-park-service-staff-amid-peak 

https://www.sierraclub.org/washington/2025-end-of-session-report 

https://grist.org/politics/house-republican-tax-bill-inflation-reduction-act-repeal-clean-energy-tax-credits/

https://www.nwf.org/Home/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2025/5-21-2025-Removal-of-Public-Lands-Transfer-Testament-to-Public-Input 

https://www.nwf.org/Home/Latest-News/Press-Releases/2025/5-22-2025-Reconciliation-Package 

https://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/house-passes-big-giveaway-budget-bill-drilling-and-mining-interests-reap-huge-rewards

https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/5/19/bigger-cuts-to-staff-at-public-land-agencies-will-affect-outdoor-recreation 

https://www.blm.gov/press-release 

https://www.doi.gov/news

https://www.npca.org/articles/8759-mount-rainier-rolls-out-limited-seasonal-reservation-system 

https://www.npca.org/articles/8825-national-park-service-alaska-regional-office-decimated-by-staff-cuts-and 

https://www.npca.org/articles/8858-new-order-threate


Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.