Newhouse Applauds Rescission of Conservation and Landscape Health Rule

Press Release 
For Immediate Release: May 12, 2026
Contact: Juan Ayala, (202) 713-7750

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement regarding the Department of the Interior's (DOI) rescission of former President Biden’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule, know as the Public Lands Rule. 

"The previous Administration made a concerted effort to attack our Western Way of Life,” said Rep. Newhouse. “By including conservation as a multiple use under FLPMA, contrary to Congressional intent, unelected bureaucrats threatened to lock up millions of acres across the West. Conservation is an implicit benefit of other multiple uses, it is not in and of itself a use. I applaud Secretary Burgum for reversing this harmful regulation." 

Background 

The Conservation and Landscape Health Rule was issued on May 9th, 2024. This rule elevated conservation as a discreet "use" of public lands, contrary to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1974's intent and framework. By reversing this rule, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) eliminates mechanisms which threatened to restrict productive use of public lands.