Texas – On April 7, 2025, Commissioner Sid Miller issued a statement calling for the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, to end the misuse of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Miller criticized the Biden Administration’s handling of the ESA, particularly its use to implement the controversial 30×30 land grab agenda, which he argues harms rural America.
Miller pointed to several instances where he believes the ESA was exploited to undermine local conservation efforts, including the listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken, the proposed expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, and the potential listing of the Monarch Butterfly. He contended that these actions ignored successful, voluntary conservation efforts by Texas landowners, ranchers, and energy producers, instead punishing them with policies that stifle rural economies and overburden agricultural producers.
The statement emphasized that the Trump Administration provided an opportunity to correct these policies. Miller, alongside U.S. Representative August Pfluger, called for the removal of the Dunes Sagebrush Lizard and Lesser Prairie Chicken from the endangered species list. Additionally, he urged that the Eastern Monarch Butterfly be excluded from consideration under the ESA.
Miller argued that this movement was not just about reducing federal overreach but about restoring common sense and empowering rural economies. He stressed that productive land should be returned to the hands of the farmers, ranchers, and producers who know how to manage it most effectively. He concluded that true progress would come from trusting the stewards of the land rather than imposing top-down restrictions.
The Commissioner’s remarks underscore his commitment to revitalizing rural economies and ensuring that local communities have the freedom to continue managing and conserving their lands in ways that benefit both the environment and the economy.
