Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Lawmakers demand ethics investigation of Karen Budd-Falen
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Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Karen Budd-Falen presents a session at the Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference on May 4, 2023 in Reno, Nevada. Image by Ark. Agricultural Experiment Station ([link removed]) .

On Tuesday, members of the House Natural Resources Committee and House Oversight Committee asked ([link removed]) the Interior department's inspector general to investigate whether Karen Budd-Falen, currently the third-highest ranking official at Interior, engaged in self-dealing during the first Trump administration.

Government documents reveal ([link removed]) that Budd-Falen failed to disclose a $3.5 million contract her husband signed with the developer of the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada while Budd-Falen was a top official at Interior during the first Trump administration.

The letter ([link removed]) , which follows an investigation by Public Domain ([link removed]) , contains alarming new details that reveal the Interior solicitor’s office, where Budd-Falen worked during the first Trump administration, had significant involvement in the fast-track process that led to the mine’s approval in the final days of President Trump’s first term. That approval was essential for the Budd-Falen family ranch to receive an initial payment of nearly $3 million from the mine’s developers.

“The internal documents in this letter are incredibly damning,” said ([link removed]) Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss. “At the very least, Secretary Burgum must suspend Karen Budd-Falen pending the outcome of any investigation.”


** Quick hits
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Lawmakers demand investigation of $3.5 million deal by Interior official's husband

Public Domain ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | WyoFile ([link removed])

Backlogged and DOGE-depleted: Forest Service report raises alarm over trail health

WyoFile ([link removed])

At Yosemite, rangers are scarce and visitors have gone wild

New York Times ([link removed])

Amendment to block public funding for road to Colorado luxury community dropped from appropriations bill

Colorado Sun ([link removed])

Doug Burgum used to praise liberty. Now he's betraying it

Heatmap ([link removed])

Trump administration has pushed 80% of Project 2025’s public land priorities forward

Vail Daily ([link removed]) | Center for Western Priorities ([link removed]) [report]

Congress has doubts about the Trump administration's new wildfire management plans

Inside Climate News ([link removed])

First new fossils unearthed at Dinosaur National Monument since 1924

Axios Denver ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” It’s really disheartening to see the direction we’re going. It’s trying times. Nobody is really sure what’s going to happen next.”

—Mark Ruggiero, a retired Yosemite ranger who still does part-time work in the park, New York Times ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@grandtetonnps ([link removed])
🦊🐺 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐟𝐨𝐱𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞?

Every year, scientists conduct carefully reviewed research in Grand Teton National Park to help us better understand and protect this place. One of those projects is the 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭, which is studying how gray wolves, coyotes, and red foxes interact with each other and with humans across the park.

Using GPS collars, remote cameras, genetic analysis, and even anonymous cell phone data, researchers are tracking how these three species move, compete, use the landscape, and react to human presence.

Science plays a key role in keeping Grand Teton wild, resilient, and thriving. 🏔️
Thanks to the researchers helping us understand what coexistence really looks like.

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