Impact of the Omnibus Spending Bill on Wild Horses and Burros

The 2017 Omnibus Spending Bill, recently passed by Congress, has significant implications for the management and protection of America's wild horses and burros. While the bill maintains certain protections, it also introduces new challenges that could affect the future of these iconic animals. This article explores the key aspects of the bill and what they mean for wild horses and burros.

Maintaining Slaughter Bans

On the positive side, Congress has upheld the prohibition on funding for USDA inspections of horse slaughter plants, ensuring these facilities remain closed in the U.S. for at least five more months. Additionally, the ban on destroying healthy wild horses and burros or selling them for slaughter remains in place. We commend the members of Congress, particularly the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairs, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Rep. Ken Calvert, and ranking members Senator Tom Udall and Rep. Betty McCollum, for their steadfast opposition to the slaughter of America's wild horses.

Section 116: “Transfer of Excess Animals”

On the downside, for the first time since the Burns Amendment in 2004, Congress has used a spending bill to weaken the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act. Section 116 of the Omnibus, titled “Humane Transfer of Excess Animals,” authorizes the BLM to strip wild horses and burros of federal protection and transfer them to state and local agencies for use as “work animals.”

The BLM claims this language is intended to facilitate the transfer of up to 200 horses annually to agencies like the Border Patrol. However, the language's broad implications could potentially allow for the transfer of unlimited numbers of horses, creating a back-door route to the killing of thousands of “excess” horses.

The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) lobbied against this provision. Despite assurances that the language had been removed, it was included in the final bill passed by Congress. Although efforts were made to prohibit the euthanasia of wild horses and burros and the commercial slaughter of transferred horses, the lack of enforcement provisions and transparency remains a grave concern.

Report Language: Directives from Congress

The Omnibus spending bill includes Senate and House Report language that emphasizes humane management and care for wild horses and burros. However, it also directs “accelerated gathers” to achieve Appropriate Management Levels (AMLs) in Herd Management Areas, potentially leading to the removal of up to 50,000 wild horses and burros from the range.

180 Days to Create a “Humane Plan”

The bill gives the BLM 180 days to develop a plan for maintaining sustainable populations on the range humanely. This presents an opportunity for the BLM to implement humane fertility control and allocate resources fairly to wild horses on public lands.

Interior Secretary Zinke's remarks to the Public Lands Council, a lobbying group for ranchers, suggest a concerning stance on wild horse management. With 80 percent of Americans opposing horse slaughter, the Administration's actions will be closely watched.

America’s wild horses may be making their last stand under this Administration. The definition of “humane” treatment will ultimately determine their fate. Now is the time to speak up for wild horses and burros with a unified voice.