White House cancels plan that would have expanded public lands by 700,000 acres: 'Unnecessary'

White House cancels plan that would have expanded public lands by 700,000 acres: 'Unnecessary'

The Trump administration canceled a plan to expand the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas to make way for energy development and agriculture production. What's happening? A 2023 land protection plan for the 6,440-acre Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge could have enlarged the area by 700,000 acres in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. The move stems from an executive order to squash government contracts that "[limit] energy or agricultural …