The Trump administration is taking a closer look at grizzly bear management plans proposed by the Biden Administration prior to the transfer of power.
That plan would condense protected grizzly bear population areas into a single distinct population, spanning thousands of acres in four states. Agriculture and hunting groups, as well as the governors of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, are against it.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum was questioned on the matter.
“Having been a governor, I understand how dedicated the state Fish and Wildlife representatives are from Montana, from Wyoming, from North Dakota, South Dakota — I mean, all of the folks — as the Chair of Western Governors, I came to understand how dedicated those state officials are,” Burgum said. " I think there’s a belief that when they come off of federal protection, that they’re unprotected. No! They’re managed as they are, all the other species in the state, by the locals, who have the closest data. So yes, I pledge to work with you on this issue.”
The Trump administration has paused public meetings while it reviews the grizzly bear plan. However, public comments are still being taken online.
January 30, 2026 06:00 AM
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Roger McEowen explains the concept of “lawfare” — the use of legal systems to intimidate or financially exhaust an opponent — which grew into a central theme of U.S. ag law in 2025.
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Roger McEowen, with the Washburn School of Law, offers an in-depth look at two of the top legal issues of 202. Today, he walks through last year’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) ruling and “lawfare.”
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RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey recently spoke with Dr. Mike Vickers, a South Texas rancher, who says illegal border crossings have dramatically declined in the last year.
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Public Lands Council published a joint press release regarding the advancement of legislation to delist the Mexican Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act.
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Large-scale land purchases signal rising competition for ranchland, reinforcing its value while reshaping long-term access and control in rural agriculture.
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From meatpacking settlements to landmark NEPA rulings, Roger McEowen outlines the top legal developments in 2025 that will shape agriculture in the years ahead.
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In a landmark ruling delivered in late 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act.
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Rep. Erin Houchin of Indiana discusses how the Affordable Homes Act will benefit rural communities, and her broader efforts to improve access to affordable housing.
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