Proposed federal budget cuts could impact New Mexico public lands, Heinrich says
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich says proposed federal budget cuts could significantly impact New Mexico’s public lands, national parks and wildlife programs.
Senator points to deep reductions for national parks, conservation lands and wildlife programs during Senate hearing
Organ Mountain News report
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Proposed federal budget cuts to the Department of the Interior could significantly impact New Mexico’s public lands, national parks and wildlife programs, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich said during a Senate hearing this week.
Speaking Wednesday during a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request, Heinrich pointed to major proposed reductions affecting agencies that manage federal lands across New Mexico.
According to Heinrich, the proposal would cut the Bureau of Land Management’s land resources account by 48 percent, reduce wildlife and aquatic resource programs by 70 percent and cut funding for National Conservation Lands — including national monuments, recreation areas and trails — by 75 percent.
Heinrich said those lands play a key role in New Mexico’s economy, particularly national monuments and other protected areas that draw tourism and support local communities.
"I don’t know anyone in New Mexico that thinks we spend too much money on wildlife," Heinrich said. "We may spend too much money on a war in Iran, but we don’t spend too much money on wildlife."
Heinrich also said proposed staffing cuts at the National Park Service could affect how parks are managed, even if employees are not based at individual park sites.
“Eliminating those positions means our national parks will go without the science-based management and conservation they need,” Heinrich said during the hearing.
Heinrich also criticized proposed reductions to agencies responsible for permitting energy projects on federal lands, saying the cuts could slow approvals rather than streamline them.
According to Heinrich, the Department of the Interior oversees millions of acres of federal land in New Mexico, including national parks, monuments and Bureau of Land Management areas.
The budget proposal remains under review by Congress.
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