Wild Horse Group Responds to Trump's Interior Secretary Pick
Trump Interior Nominee Should Honor American Public's Strong Support for Protection of Mustangs as "Symbols of America's Greatness"
Statement in Response to Nomination of Ryan Zinke for Interior Secretary
Washington, DC (December 15, 2016) . . . The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) today issued the following statement in response to news that President-Elect Trump has nominated Rep. Ryan Zinke for the position of Secretary of the Interior.
"President Elect Trump has promised to restore government to the people. We trust that his administration will follow the will of the American people to protect America’s wild horses and burros as national symbols of freedom and America’s greatness.
While we are concerned about some aspects of Rep. Zinke’s record regarding horse protection, we are hopeful that he will be willing to address the ongoing federal mismanagement of the wild horse program in a manner that is consistent with President-Elect Trump’s stated commitment to the American people.
We look forward to a constructive dialogue with him about the availability of scientifically-proven, cost-effective and humane alternatives for population management that save taxpayers money and preserve free-roaming wild horses and burros as part of our national legacy.
With nearly three in four Americans supporting protection and preservation of wild horses on our western public lands and 80 percent of Americans opposed to horse slaughter, the new Interior Secretary, on behalf of the Trump Administration, must take a strong stand against mass roundups and slaughter of these national icons."
The American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Preservation) is dedicated to defending America’s wild horses and burros to protect their freedom, preserve their habitat, and promote humane standards of treatment. AWHC’s mission is endorsed by a coalition of more than 60 horse advocacy, public interest, and conservation organizations.