In the News
Trump administration advances plan to reverse federal rule that limits logging in national forests
by James Brooks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, parent agency of the U.S. Forest Service, announced Wednesday that it is moving ahead with plans to rescind a rule that has restricted logging and construction on millions of acres of federal lands in the American West for more than two decades. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in a written statement that the agency intends to open public comments Friday on its proposal to end the so-called “Roadless Rule,” an act that will affect as much … Continue Reading
August 17, 2025
States are trying to keep disasters apolitical in the new Trump era
by Natalie Fertig, Gregory Svirnovskiy
Governors face a new challenge as they barrel into natural disaster season: navigating President Donald Trump’s increasingly personal approach to awarding federal aid. In recent weeks, Trump has heralded disaster aid awards to states including Michigan, Kentucky and Indiana via Truth Social — and accompanied Indiana’s $15 million award with a note that he “won BIG” there in the past three general elections. His practice of flattering federal recipients on social media has left state leaders … Continue Reading
August 11, 2025
‘We’re in uncharted territory’; Huffman’s bill to block federal firings
by Robert Schaulis
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Natural Resources Committee Democrats announced that ranking member Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) had introduced legislation “to prevent politically-motivated workforce reductions at the Department of the Interior (DOI), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the Department of Energy (DOE).” The legislation — co-introduced in the House by Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), with companion bills in the Senate introduced by Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Sheldon … Continue Reading
August 05, 2025
Dems urge Trump admin to step aside for plastic treaty talks
by Ellie Borst
Three Democratic lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to either join the push toward a progressive global plastics treaty or step aside and let the more ambitious countries reach an agreement without U.S. support. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Jared Huffman, of Rhode Island, Oregon and California, respectively, urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a letter sent Monday "to use our nation’s influence to advance an ambitious agreement that includes real, … Continue Reading
August 05, 2025
Trump fires 5 members of Puerto Rico's financial oversight board
by Cristina Corujo, Jennifer Jacobs
President Trump fired five of the eight members of Puerto Rico's Financial Oversight Management Board, which oversees the U.S. territory's budget plan. The island has been trying to find its way to fiscal solvency after struggling with its debt for years. Mr. Trump dismissed the board's chairman Arthur J. Gonzalez, Cameron McKenzie, Betty A. Rosa, Juan A. Sabater, and Luis A. Ubiñas, leaving only two board members in place, in addition to one appointed by the Puerto Rican governor, CBS News … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Marin leaders celebrate release of $42M education outlay
by Keri Brenner
Local leaders said they are relieved that millions of dollars in federal education funds for Marin have been unfrozen and will be fully restored. The Trump administration said Friday it would release more than $6 billion in funding nationally for English language classes, adult literacy and other programs that it had withheld on July 1. California schools had been slated to receive $939 million, of which Marin schools were in line for $42 million. Marin school superintendents, who have … Continue Reading
July 29, 2025
Grand Canyon wildfire spreads, now only 9% contained
by Avril Silva
Gusts of dry air expanded the wildfire burning in the Grand Canyon National Park over the weekend, with the incident team meteorologist expressing hope Monday that rain later this week could help fight the blazes. The Dragon Bravo Fire on Friday was considered to be at 26 percent containment, according to the federal government’s fire-tracking system. By Tuesday afternoon, the fire had grown to 71,000 acres and was considered 9 percent contained. Officials said biomass in the pine forest … Continue Reading
July 28, 2025
Huffman balks at Westerman NEPA bill; other Dems silent
by Kelsey Brugger
The top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee wasted little time vilifying new bipartisan legislation to overhaul a core environmental statute — even as lawmakers in both parties say they want to work together on the issue. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) issued a press release Friday declaring the new "Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act" would be a handout to fossil fuel corporations while silencing communities during the environmental review … Continue Reading
July 24, 2025
New legislation could help 1,700 California growers ship cannabis to consumers
by Jacob Shelton
In a move that could reshape the cannabis marketplace for small producers, California Rep. Jared Huffman has reintroduced legislation that would allow the state’s smallest cannabis cultivators to ship products directly to consumers—both within state lines and, eventually, across them. The proposal, known as the Small and Homestead Independent Producers (SHIP) Act, aims to safeguard small farmers and manufacturers in the event of full federal legalization. Under the bill, direct-to-consumer … Continue Reading
July 23, 2025
Hearing showcases lingering divisions on permitting
by Kelsey Brugger
Lawmakers in both parties have been talking up the prospect of a bipartisan permitting reform deal this Congress, but if Tuesday’s House Natural Resources hearing offered any clues, they have a long way to go. The four-hour hearing on the "permitting purgatory" featured familiar talking points from Republicans about how National Environmental Policy Act reviews have become "limitless and excruciating exercises." “If we want to ensure a future where America remains a beacon of Liberty and … Continue Reading
July 22, 2025
Democrats line up behind bill to protect NOAA offices
by Daniel Cusick
Dozens of House Democrats are sponsoring legislation to block the Trump administration from shuttering NOAA and National Weather Service offices. The "Stop NOAA Closures Act," from Rep. Gabe Amo of Rhode Island and Natural Resources ranking member Jared Huffman of California, would impose a moratorium on closing offices, terminating leases, stopping construction and other new limits on access. The bill is co-sponsored by Science Space and Technology ranking member Zoe Lofgren of California … Continue Reading
July 21, 2025
Top House Democrat seeks answers on Grand Canyon fire
by Heather Richards
The top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee is asking President Donald Trump how his administration initially responded to a still-burning wildfire in Grand Canyon National Park. In a letter Monday addressed to Trump, Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from California, said political appointees like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins are ultimately responsible for how the Dragon Bravo Fire was managed. “As you have insisted in many, many other … Continue Reading
July 21, 2025
Interior’s new solar, wind policy sparks concerns of ‘shadow ban’
by Scott Streater
A new policy requiring the Interior secretary to approve all aspects of solar and wind project permitting has opened the floodgates for critics who say it’s the clearest signal yet that green energy is not part of President Donald Trump’s energy dominance agenda. It has also prompted pushback from supporters who say the new policy is a long-overdue move to level the regulatory playing field following four years of the Biden administration prioritizing renewable energy development on federal … Continue Reading
July 21, 2025
Panel to debate overhaul of marine mammal law
by Garrett Downs, Daniel Cusick
A House Natural Resources subcommittee on Tuesday will meet to discuss a slate of bills, including a controversial draft to reform the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The discussion draft, credited to Alaska Republican Rep. Nick Begich, would scale down the scope of the MMPA and raise the bar for the federal government to take action to protect marine mammals like whales, dolphins, seals and polar bears. Environmental advocates have warned that, as written, the bill would gut the MMPA and … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Congressional hearing quashes the idea of ending the Financial Oversight Board before PREPA emerges from bankruptcy
by José A. Delgado
Through differing opinions, Republicans and Democrats alike agreed Wednesday that the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA)’s debt restructuring must be completed before sunsetting the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB), created by the PROMESA law nine years ago and which could remain in effect until at least 2030. “We need to finish the job,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Arkansas) told El Nuevo Día at the end of the hearing of the Indian … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Duffy, Nadler blast each other as liars in exchange over NYC subway safety
by Chris Marquette, Sam Ogozalek
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) sparred at a House hearing Wednesday, accusing each other of lying about whether New York City’s subway system is safe — the fieriest of a series of testy exchanges between Duffy and Democrats. The heated back-and-forth with Nadler came when the congressmember took aim at Duffy’s ongoing effort to portray the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s system as dangerous, saying his criticism has missed the mark. Nadler, who represents part … Continue Reading
July 16, 2025
Yellowstone Delisting Proposal Backed by Montana Reps Clears Key Congressional Hurdle
by Amanda Eggert
A proposal by a Wyoming Republican representative to remove Endangered Species Act protections from Yellowstone grizzly bears narrowly cleared a key congressional vote Tuesday. The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources voted 20-19 to advance a bill that would reinstate a 2017 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist — or remove federal protections — from grizzly bears. Language in the bill also seeks to make the action immune to a court challenge. U.S. Rep. Harriet … Continue Reading
July 15, 2025
House panel OKs grizzly bear, vulture, lead ammo bills
by Garrett Downs
The House Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday advanced a slate of bills, including to delist the Greater Yellowstone grizzly bear, allow the killing of black vultures and limit restrictions on lead ammunition and tackle. The Republican-controlled panel approved Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman’s H.R. 281, the “Grizzly Bear State Management Act of 2025,” 20-19 along party lines. The legislation would require the Interior Department to reinstate a 2017 rule delisting the bear. The … Continue Reading
July 10, 2025
Huffman: Interior should revoke DOGE access to payroll data
by Jennifer Yachnin
Democratic lawmakers are pressing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to stop several of his senior aides — including one tasked with reorganizing the agency's workforce — from accessing a federal payroll system database, citing cybersecurity and privacy concerns. California Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, and Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Lori Trahan also called on Burgum to reinstate three senior Interior Department officials who clashed with the … Continue Reading
July 09, 2025
‘Dangerous for Democracy’: Trump IRS Says Nonprofit Churches Can Make Political Endorsements
by Jessica Corbett
"This is another dark day for our democracy." That's what American Humanist Association (AHA) executive director Fish Stark said in a Tuesday statement responding to a move from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to allow houses of worship to endorse political candidates. When former President Lyndon B. Johnson was a senator, he introduced a provision of the U.S. tax code that bans organizations from participating or intervening in campaigns for public office as a condition for … Continue Reading