Muleshoe, TX – Today, House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) celebrated the Trump Administration Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to cancel the Land Protection Plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, ending the Biden’s Administration’s landgrab that would have expanded the refuge by over 10,000% and infringed on the private property rights of West Texans.
“The Biden Administration finalized a plan to buy up 30% of the land in the US by 2030, a significant part of which was expanding a wildlife refuge in West Texas by an outrageous 10,000%,” said Chairman Arrington.“I'm proud to have led the fight to defend our tax dollars, private property rights, and way of life by advancing legislation to prohibit and defund this federal land grab. I applaud the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw the Biden Administration's unnecessary and overreaching expansion of federal lands.”
“This announcement is an important step forward in overturning the radical policies of the Biden administration and ensuring we don’t take steps to dramatically expand the already bloated federal estate,” said Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. “I’d like thank Rep. Arrington for his leadership in this matter and look forward to working with him to further advance the natural resources issues facing West Texas.”
“The Muleshoe land grab was a stealth attempt to create the first federal government stronghold in Texas,” said Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of American Stewards of Liberty.“We are thankful to President Trump and Secretary Burgum for rescinding this plan and rolling back another key component of the 30x30 agenda. We are also thankful to Representative Arrington for his swift actions to ensure this plan was stopped. He has boldly protected the property rights of his constituents and stood squarely between Texans and the federal government”
Chairman Arrington has led the fight against the proposed expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge since the beginning.
Background:
On July 23, 2025, the House Natural Resource Committee passed out of committee the No Federal Expansion Designation (No FED) in West Texas Act, legislation introduced by House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) on January 31, 2025, that would prohibit the Biden Administration’s Final Land Protection Plan to expand the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge by over 10,000%, preserving private property rights and protecting West Texas communities from government overreach.
On May 16, 2025, Arrington was joined by Reps. Ronny Jackson and Wesley Hunt in sending a letter requesting the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to support efforts to protect the hard-working men and women of West Texas from this unprecedented and unnecessary federal land expansion.
“Like a Hole in our Head” – On April 8, 2025, Chairman Arrington spoke at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing to advocate for the No FED in West Texas Act.
On September 17, 2024, Chairman Arrington authored an op-ed in the Dallas Morning News entitled, “Congressman Arrington: Why I Oppose the Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge Expansion.”
“I have Tremendous Cause for Concern” – on July 16, 2024, Chairman Arrington interviewed with Lubbock’s KAMC to discuss his opposition of the Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge Expansion.
On July 1, 2024, Chairman Arrington sent a letter to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service demanding answers on its efforts to expand the refuge through the acquisition of private land.
The Rule:
In 2024, Biden’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a Land Protection Plan that would allow the agency to purchase private lands or acquire conservation easements from willing sellers on up to 700,000 acres in Texas and New Mexico in an effort to expand the effective conservation footprint of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge.
Video Resources:
Arrington Celebrates Trump Administration Stopping Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge Federal Land Grab
