VICTORY: Court Rules Lawsuit to Protect Wilderness Battlefield Can Proceed Thanks to yesterday’s ruling, litigation will continue to save this precious landscape and hallowed ground, home to some of America’s most impactful history. WASHINGTON – Today, the Circuit Court for Orange County, Virginia partially denied a motion to dismiss the litigation challenging the the local
Federal Judge Rebukes Trump Administration for Firing Essential Federal Employees
Federal Judge Rebukes Trump Administration for Firing Essential Federal Employees In a sharply worded decision issued late Friday, a federal district judge ruled that the Trump Administration broke the law by firing federal workers employed in vital roles protecting public safety and supporting the U.S. economy. Judge William H. Alsup of the Northern District of
After Bipartisan Outrage, Controversial Provision To Sell Public Lands Is Stripped From Reconciliation Package
After Bipartisan Outrage, Controversial Provision To Sell Public Lands Is Stripped From Reconciliation Package Coalition To Protect America’s National Parks Calls Ruling From Senate Parliamentarian A Win And Commits To Keeping Up Fight To Protect Public Lands and National Parks Late last night, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that the highly controversial provision from Senator Mike
Judge Deals Significant Blow to Unconstitutional Reorganization of Federal Government
PRESS RELEASE May 22, 2025 Preliminary Injunction Issued in Largest and Most Significant Challenge to President’s Authority to Remake Government without Congressional Approval Washington, D.C. – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California San Francisco Division today issued a preliminary injunction that will block the Trump administration’s unlawful reorganization of the federal
Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Fired Probationary Federal Employees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nick Voutsinos, nv********@****me.org Tim Kauffman, ti**********@**ge.org Erik Molvar, em*****@***************ds.org Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org Christian Hall, pr***@*********************rs.org Matt Corridoni, ma************@******ts.org Cade Cannedy, ca**********@***********es.org March 13, 2025 Federal Court Orders Reinstatement of Fired Probationary Federal Employees Judge rules workers were illegally fired by the Trump administration SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. District Court
Coalition Applauds Designation of Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments
Release Date: January 7, 2025 Media Contact: Emily Thompson Em************@********ps.org 202-758-3936 Coalition Applauds Designation of Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments Today, President Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument and the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument, both located in California. Following the announcement, Phil Francis, Chair of the Executive
Coalition Celebrates the Designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument
Release Date: August 8, 2023 Media Contact: Emily Thompson, Em************@********ps.org Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Celebrates the Designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument Today, President Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act designate the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand
What Exactly Is The Antiquities Act?
This week, President Biden used his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. This new monument will protect the stories and experiences of the U.S. Army’s famed 10th Mountain Division, who trained at Camp Hale and distinguished themselves in combat during World War II. It will also help to
Success Story – Federal Court Blocks Cadiz Water Project in the California Desert
Success Story – Federal Court Blocks Cadiz Water Project in the California Desert By Mark Butler A controversial plan to extract billions of gallons of groundwater from beneath the Mojave Desert in California has been blocked by a federal judge, who ruled the review of the project by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under
Advocacy Actions Update: Spaceport Camden and Mt. Rushmore Fireworks
Spaceport Camden In 2021, the Coalition and its partners were active in expressing concerns with efforts of the Camden County, Ga., government to purchase and build a spaceport on a large industrial site owned by Union Carbide Corporation. The County had signed a contract to purchase the land; however, the National Park Service and
Success Story: Safeguarding the Protection Ranger Profession
In June 2016, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a classification appeal involving an encumbered position in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, tasked primarily with performing investigative work, from the 0025 Park Ranger (Protection) occupational series, to the 1801, General Inspections, Investigation, Enforcement and Compliance series. In issuing this appeal, OPM stated that
Coalition Celebrates Decision to Defer UT Lease Sales
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Steve Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 801-859-1552, st***@**wa.org Anne Hawke, Senior Press Secretary, Natural Resources Defense Council, 646-823-4518, ah****@**dc.org Liam Kelly, Communications Manager, National Parks Conservation Association, 213-814-8666 Emily Thompson, Associate Director of Engagement, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, 202-758-3936, Em************@********ps.org Salt Lake City, UT (August 12, 2020) – The Bureau of Land
Success Story: The Great American Outdoors Act
The Great American Outdoors Act – a landmark piece of legislation that is one of the greatest conservation efforts in a generation – has been signed into law. It fully and permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a program that invests in national parks, public lands, and communities across the country
Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Applauds Momentous Movement on Great American Outdoors Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act. The bill now moves to President Trump’s desk for his signature. This act would fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a popular program that invests in national parks, public lands, and communities across the country.
Success Story: An End to the Atlantic Coast Pipeline
In a tremendous victory for our national parks and public lands, two of the nation’s largest utility companies, Dominion Energy and Duke Energy, announced that they have canceled the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline project, which would have carried natural gas across the Appalachian Trail, as well as the Blue Ridge Parkway. In January, the Coalition
Coalition Chair Is Guest on Great Battlefield Podcast
Phil Francis joins The Great Battlefield podcast to talk about his 40-year career working for our National Parks and how The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks is working to preserve our Parks and Park Service at a time when they are under attack. Listen here.
Victory in a 30-year fight to protect groundwater under Great Basin National Park
There is good news to celebrate in a long struggle against the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) proposed groundwater pumping and pipeline project in Eastern Nevada, which would have caused significant impact to Great Basin National Park. Following a 30-year battle, the SNWA has decided not to appeal the March 2020 decision by Nevada District Court
Success Story – Speaking Out Against Impacts to Chaco Canyon NHP Helps Change Interior Direction
In February 2017, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks submitted comments – along with Tribes and several conservation organizations – to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in opposition to mineral leasing proposed on approximately 4.2 million acres of land in San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley and Sandoval Counties in New Mexico (NM).
Success Story: James River Powerline Ruling
Success Story Update: Persistence pays off—court rules Army Corps acted improperly in approving James River powerlines without Environmental Impact Statement. On March 1, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed a lower court’s decision and ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers acted improperly in allowing the Dominion Energy
Coalition’s Advocacy Efforts Pay Off in District of Columbia Circuit Ruling
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, in partnership with NPCA and other conservation groups, entered legal objections to an Army Corps of Engineers Project that erected nearly 300-foot-high towers through the James River within sight of Historic Jamestowne and Colonial National Historical Park. A federal appellate court, holding that the U.S. Army Corps of
Coalition Among Groups Urging for Passage of S. 3172/H.R.6510
The National Parks Second Century Action Coalition, wrote in support of S. 3172/H.R. 6510, Restore Our Parks Act/Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act and final passage in the 115th Congress. Click “Read More” to read our letter and view the photobook delivered to Congress.
Success Story Update: NPS Announces plan for Modest Entrance Fee Increases
Success Story Update: NPS Announces Plan for Modest Entrance Fee Increases On April 4, 2018, we reported that the U.S. Department of the Interior appeared to be backing away from a plan to drastically increase entrance fees at 17 of the most popular national parks. The proposal was vigorously opposed by gateway communities, park visitors,
Success Story: Interior Department Drops Outrageous Entrance Fee Proposal
Success Story: Interior Department Drops Outrageous Entrance Fee Proposal Multiple news sources report that the U.S. Department of the Interior is backing away from a plan to dramatically increase entrance fees at 17 of the most popular national parks after receiving more than 100,000 public comments from Americans nearly unanimously opposed to the idea. The apparent decision
Success Story: BLM Defers Oil and Gas Lease Sale Near Chaco Culture NHP
Success Story: BLM Defers Oil and Gas Lease Sale Near Chaco Culture NHP On Friday, March 2, 2018, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke has directed the BLM to defer its scheduled Farmington New Mexico Field Office oil and gas lease sale so the agency can complete
Success Story: BLM Defers Leasing Oil and Gas Parcel Near Theodore Roosevelt NP
Success Story: BLM Defers Leasing Oil and Gas Parcel Near Theodore Roosevelt NP In a terse one-paragraph statement, on December 14, 2017 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced its decision to defer (i.e., postpone until a future date) leasing an oil and gas parcel on the boundary of the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt