On July 3, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order prioritizing the conservation of America’s natural resources and national parks, emphasizing a commitment to restoring the country’s outdoor heritage and recreation opportunities.
The order highlights the significance of the nation’s landscapes and resources, stating that America is blessed with vast beautiful areas that have inspired generations. It seeks to kindle the spirit of exploration in future Americans by ensuring they inherit well-maintained parks and recreation areas.
President Trump pointed to years of mismanagement and regulatory challenges that have led to significant deterioration in federal land management, noting that the National Park Service faces over $23 billion in deferred maintenance, while the United States Forest Service has over $10.8 billion in similar backlogs.
This neglect has hampered public access to lands that belong to hunters, fishers, and outdoorsmen, threatening traditional outdoor activities and conservation funding.
Recognizing the intertwined relationship between conservation and economic growth, the executive order cites the success of the Great American Outdoors Act, which has helped the outdoor recreation economy grow to $1.2 trillion, representing 3.1 percent of employment in the United States and supporting approximately 5 million jobs.
To address these pressing issues, the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission has been established. Chaired by the Secretary of the Interior, the commission aims to facilitate interagency coordination on conservation efforts and provide actionable recommendations to enhance national conservation policies.
Additional members will include top officials from various governmental departments, including the Secretaries of Defense and Agriculture, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Other notable participants may include members of President Trump’s administration as deemed necessary by the chair and the Executive Director.
The commission’s mission is clear: it will advise on how to responsibly conserve national treasures and natural resources, focusing on voluntary conservation initiatives rather than regulatory measures. The commission is tasked with developing policies that enhance recovery efforts for fish and wildlife populations alongside state wildlife agencies.
In its initiatives, the commission will also address the need for improved access to clean drinking water and restored aquatic ecosystems, enhancing water quality and availability for the nation’s communities.
Furthermore, it will recommend solutions for expanding access to public lands, national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges, promoting recreational activities ranging from hiking and biking to fishing and outdoor exploration.
In ensuring that these objectives are met, the commission will monitor the implementation of the executive order and facilitate collaboration among different agencies focused on conservation.
The general provisions of the order clarify that it does not diminish the authority of executive agencies or their heads, nor does it create rights enforceable by any party against the United States or its entities. The Department of the Interior will cover the costs associated with publishing this order.
This significant push for better management and conservation of America’s natural resources reflects President Trump’s broader agenda to enhance economic growth while prioritizing the outdoors and recreational access.
The establishment of the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission represents a critical step towards addressing the challenges that are currently impeding effective environmental management and public access to natural spaces.
As America progresses through these initiatives, the expectations are that with innovative strategies and common-sense policies, the administration can strike a balance between economic development and environmental stewardship, ensuring the great outdoors remain a source of pride and enjoyment for generations to come.
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