Five Impacts of the Government Shutdown on Wild Horses & Burros
(January 20, 2018) The U.S. Senate failed to reach an agreement on a Continuing Resolution to keep the government running, leading to a shutdown. The duration of this shutdown is uncertain as lawmakers continue negotiations. Here are five ways wild horses and burros could be impacted.
#1. Continued Care in BLM Facilities
Wild horses and burros in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) holding facilities will continue to be fed and cared for. The BLM has confirmed to American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) that this is considered an essential government service that will persist during the shutdown.
#2. Potential Delays in Roundups
Pending wild horse roundups, scheduled to start next week, could be delayed or canceled. This means the 1,400 wild horses targeted for removal might enjoy more time on public lands. AWHC received word that the pending roundup of 100 horses from the Cold Springs/Hog Creek Herd Management Areas in Oregon has been "suspended until further notice." The impact on the planned removal of 1,000 horses from Nevada's Triple B Complex, scheduled to start next week, or the 300-horse roundup in Utah's Bible Springs Complex, scheduled for January 30, remains unclear.
#3. Extended Deadlines for Public Comments
Deadlines for public comments on proposed actions related to federally protected wild horses and burros may be extended. This includes the roundup in Nevada’s Seaman/White River Herd Areas and a scoping period for the Forest Service’s plan to construct an on-range holding facility to facilitate the removal of up to 2,000 wild horses from the Devils Garden Wild Horse Territory in California.
#4. Delayed Congressional Decisions
Congress' decision on whether to grant the BLM's request to kill tens of thousands of wild horses and burros will be delayed. Even if Congress agrees to restart the government, it will do so under a Continuing Resolution based on the 2017 omnibus spending bill, which prohibits the BLM from destroying healthy wild horses and burros or selling them for slaughter.
#5. Advocacy Timing
Wild horse and burro advocates must remain ready to act at the right time. Calls to Congress urging continued protections for wild horses and burros may be overlooked amid the Capitol Hill noise. When Congress resumes deliberations on Fiscal Year 2018 spending legislation, advocates should weigh in to ensure the Senate Interior Appropriations bill, which prohibits killing and slaughter, prevails over the House version, which allows for the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros.
Stay informed, stay ready, and stay tuned!