The Fish and Wildlife Service reversed course Wednesday and withdrew a years-in-the-making plan that allowed for a significant expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
Citing President Donald Trump’s call for “unleashing American energy,” the federal agency said it is canceling the “land protection plan” that authorized expansion of the refuge from its current 6,440 acres to as many as 700,000 acres.
“Consistent with the priorities of the Trump administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to reducing regulatory burdens, strengthening partnerships with state and local stakeholders, and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources,” Justin Shirley, the principal deputy director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, said in a statement.
Shirley joined the Trump administration after previously serving as director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, an agency he joined in 2002.
