As the former superintendent of Big Bend National Park, I spent the capstone years of my career working to protect this remarkable desert landscape. I am appalled that the Department of Homeland Security is now planning to build a completely unnecessary massive border wall through the spectacular river frontage that gives Big Bend its name
Conservation Groups Protest BLM Utah Oil & Gas Lease Sale Over Threats to Old Spanish Trail
Synopsis: Protest of BLM Utah 2026 First Quarter Oil & Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessment On February 24, 2026, a coalition of conservation organizations and trail advocates submitted a formal protest of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Utah 2026 First Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2026-0001-EA).
Groups Challenge BLM’s Failure to Provide Public Input on “Replacement” Oil & Gas Lease Sales
March 2, 2026 The Honorable Bill Groffy Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20240 Re: Concerns for Compliance with Mandatory Public Participation Requirements, Including for “Replacement” Oil & Gas Lease Sales Dear Acting Director Groffy: We, the undersigned organizations, are writing to express our opposition
There’s a better way to visit crowded national parks
There’s a better way to visit crowded national parks Visitors should brace for longer lines and gridlock now that several major parks are rolling back their reservation systems. Here are strategies for a more relaxed summer vacation. By Andrea Sachs When Will Pattiz learned that Yosemite was eliminating its timed-entry system, he experienced a flashback
Member Op-Ed: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid
Letters: Yosemite had a reservation system for good reasons, all of which are still valid By Don Neubacher Feb 27, 2026 Regarding “Exclusive: How Yosemite superintendent plans to manage crowds without reservation system” (Outdoors, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 21): New Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden justified the decision end the day-use reservation system, claiming that traffic congestion affects the
Coalition Urges Public Review and Historic Preservation Safeguards for Proposed White House Ballroom Expansion
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW February 27, 2026 National Capital Planning Commission Subject: White House Modernization Project The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents nearly 5,000 members with more than 50,000 years of national park management and stewardship experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of
Timed entry is out at Arches. Locals and conservationists wonder what’s next
For the first time in four years, Arches National Park won’t require visitors to have a timed-entry reservation. The pilot program began in 2022 in response to overcrowding at the southeast Utah park. Arches’ annual visitation jumped by 73.6% in the previous decade to peak at just over 1.8 million people. A National Park Service
Former National Park Leaders Sound the Alarm on Steve Pearce’s Nomination to Lead Bureau of Land Management
Release Date: February 24, 2026 Media Contact: Emily Thompson Former National Park Leaders Sound the Alarm on Steve Pearce’s Nomination to Lead Bureau of Land Management Washington, DC — Ahead of tomorrow’s hearing on the nomination of Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management, former National Park Service leaders are urging
Conservation Groups Challenge BLM’s Wyoming 2026 Oil & Gas Lease Sale
The Wilderness Society et al. Scoping Comments (Feb. 23, 2026) is a formal comment letter submitted to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding the proposed Wyoming 2026 Third Quarter Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale, which includes 271 parcels totaling approximately 357,357 acres. The letter, submitted by The Wilderness Society and partner conservation
Conservation Groups Submit Comments on Cumberland Island Visitor Plan
Comments Submitted on Cumberland Island Visitor Use Plan The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), on behalf of 15 conservation organizations, has submitted formal comments on the National Park Service’s proposed Visitor Use Management Plan (VUMP) for Cumberland Island National Seashore. While supporting the Park Service’s goal of providing thoughtful public access, the coalition raises serious
Member Op-Ed: An imminent threat to Virginia’s hallowed ground
Guest Column: An imminent threat to Virginia’s hallowed ground By Cheryl Schreier Feb 19, 2026 America’s national parks and public lands represent the very best of this nation. Unrivaled in their natural beauty and significance, these vast and glorious spaces of refuge, recreation, and reflection define our history. During my 40 years with the National
Reservation Systems Protect National Parks for the Future
Reservation Systems Protect National Parks for the Future Today, on Wednesday, February 18, the Trump Administration announced that it would roll back reservation systems at Arches, Glacier, and Yosemite National Parks. These reservation systems have helped to manage visitation during peak seasons, as national park visitation continues to grow every year, hitting a record high
Coalition Urges Careful Review of White House Modernization Plans to Protect Historic Integrity
ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION – NO HARD COPY TO FOLLOW February 18, 2026 U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Subject: White House Modernization Project(s) The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks (Coalition) represents nearly 5,000 members with more than 45,000 years of national park management experience. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation of America’s
Coalition Files Lawsuit to Challenge Censorship, Erasure of American History and Science at National Parks
Groups Unite to Protect “America’s Largest Classroom” From Unlawful Removal of History and Science from Park Displays BOSTON – A coalition of organizations committed to protecting America’s national parks, preserving and sharing history, promoting scientific literacy and access, and providing high-quality interpretive materials united today to challenge a new U.S. Department of the Interior policy that
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks
National Park Service Director Must Champion Parks Yesterday, President Donald Trump nominated Mr. Scott Socha, a hotel and food management executive, as the next director of the National Park Service. In response, Emily Thompson, executive director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement: “Over the last year, the National Park
Urge BLM to Defer August 2026 Oil & Gas Leasing Near Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Maah Daah Hey Trail
On February 12, 2026, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Badlands Conservation Alliance filed scoping comments urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to defer key oil and gas lease parcels proposed for the Montana–Dakotas Q3 (August) 2026 lease sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA). The groups recommend that BLM designate
One Year After the Valentine’s Day Firings, America’s National Parks Remain in Crisis
MEMO To: Interested Parties Fr: Emily Thompson, Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Re: One year after the Valentine’s Day firings, what we’re seeing at National Parks Dt: February 2026 __________________________________________________________ One year after the Valentine’s Day firings that gutted the National Park Service, our national parks remain on a perilous path and in a
Oppose S. 446: Don’t Strip Big Cypress National Preserve of Its Chance for Wilderness Protection
Oppose S. 446 – A bill to prohibit Big Cypress National Preserve from being designated as wilderness February 3, 2026 Dear Chairman Lee, Ranking Member Heinrich, and Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee: On behalf of the undersigned organizations and our millions of members and supporters, we urge you to oppose S.
Protect California’s Coast—No New Offshore Drilling
The Environmental Defense Center (EDC), joined by dozens of environmental, community, and conservation organizations, submitted formal comments opposing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program. The letter explains that the proposed program is premature, legally flawed, and environmentally reckless—particularly its inclusion of offshore California.
More history exhibits pulled from national parks, including Grand Canyon
A new wave of takedown orders from Trump officials targets signs about climate and Native Americans at several national parks, including Big Bend and Glacier. January 27, 2026 By Jake Spring The Washington Post Trump officials have ordered national parks to remove dozens of signs and displays related to climate change, environmental protection and settlers’
144 Organizations Urge Interior Department to Reject Massive Offshore Drilling Expansion
January 23, 2025 Ms. Kelly Hammerle Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (VAM–LD) U.S. Department of Interior 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166-9216 RE: Opposition to New Lease Sales in the Draft Proposed National OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Program from 144 Non-profit organizations (Docket No. BOEM-2025-0483) Dear Secretary Burgum, On behalf of our millions of
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: “Erasing History Doesn’t Make It Go Away, It Just Makes It More Likely To Repeat Itself”
For Immediate Release: Friday, January 23, 2026 Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: “Erasing History Doesn’t Make It Go Away, It Just Makes It More Likely To Repeat Itself” Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement on the Administration’s ongoing effort
Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: Senate Must Reject House Bill That Would Open Up One Of America’s Most Treasured Landscapes Open To Mining
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Contact: Doug Gordon | do**@***************es.com Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks: Senate Must Reject House Bill That Would Open Up One Of America’s Most Treasured Landscapes Open To Mining Emily Thompson, Executive Director of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, released the following statement on House passage
International visitors now have to pay more at America’s most visited national parks
JAN 16, 2026 International visitors now have to pay more at America’s most visited national parks Advocates for the policy say the additional revenue could help the parks, while other park supporters worry the price increase will have knock-on effects. Click here to read the full article.
154 Organizations Urge Senate to Reject Stevan Pearce Nomination to Lead the Bureau of Land Management Over Public Lands Concerns
January 20, 2026 The Honorable Mike Lee Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Martin Heinrich Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources United States Senate 304 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Oppose the Nomination of Stevan Pearce