A new bill introduced in Congress would “terminate” the law enforcement powers of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Those agencies manage millions of acres across much of the West.
Bureau of Land Management agents, top, and protesters, bottom, in Nevada on April 12, 2014.
Jim Urquhart / Reuters
A group of Republicans in Congress believe they have the solution to the ongoing showdowns over public land in the West: end the federal government's enforcement responsibilities.
Law enforcement on public land is a hotly-contested issue in the West — particularly after armed conflicts in Oregon and Nevada — but tensions run deeper than the two standoffs. In recent interviews with BuzzFeed News, local officials have described what they call "out of control" federal agencies, and pointed to raids in 2009 during which armed agents with the Bureau of Land Management arrested people for allegedly trafficking in Native American antiquities.
A bill introduced in the House of Representatives last week by Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah would "terminate the law enforcement functions of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management" and hand enforcement over to local authorities.
Chaffetz argued his bill would prevent future conflicts by putting local agencies — which in many cases means local sheriffs — in charge of federal lands.
"When you have a locally elected sheriff," he told BuzzFeed News, "I think you get ultimately a better more peaceful result."
In many of these conflicts, participants see law enforcement agents — such as those singled out for elimination in Chaffetz's bill — as the tip of the federal government's spear.
Ammon Bundy, left, greets occupier Duane Ehmer and his horse Hellboy at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 8.
Jim Urquhart / Reuters
"You see the rising blood pressure and angst," Chaffetz said about conflicts involving federal agents.
The congressman said he believes the bill would actually increase law enforcement on public lands because federal authorities are currently spread thin and local agencies have more officers per square mile. He also criticized federal agencies for "haphazard" enforcement and said they have refused to disclose information on the size of their arsenals.
The bill currently has the support of all of Utah's four congressional representatives, as well as Utah Gov. Gary Herbert. The state Sheriff's Association has also come out in favor of the bill, writing that federal officials have tried to "usurp" local authority and have been "aggressive and over reactive."
With Republicans currently in control of both houses of Congress, the bill is likely to find other supporters as it works through the legislative process, and Chaffetz said he was optimistic about it's chances of passing.
"I think it's got broad support," he added.
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