The Trump administration is pursuing a land exchange that would allow a Nevada‑based developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, to build a shorter access road through Yosemite National Park. The proposal would replace a 25‑mile public drive with a private road cutting across park land to reach an 83‑acre parcel known as Hazel Green Ranch.
Local officials and park workers push back
Elected leaders in Mariposa and Tuolumne counties – the two California counties that contain Yosemite – say they were not consulted and learned of the plan only after it was announced. County representatives told CNN the lack of communication was unacceptable and expressed concern for the park’s long‑term preservation.
The National Federation of Federal Employees Local 465, representing National Park Service staff, issued an Instagram statement calling the ceding of public land to private interests “antithetical” to the agency’s stewardship mission. Employees fear the development could strain already‑overburdened park staff and undermine the park’s historic mission to protect natural wonders for future generations.
Administration’s rationale
According to the Interior Department, the exchange would be evaluated under all applicable federal laws, regulations and environmental‑review processes. A spokesperson emphasized that no political pressure has been applied to predetermine an outcome and that no final decision has been made.
Supporters of the plan argue that a shorter road would reduce vehicle emissions by cutting travel time from 45 minutes to a few minutes, potentially easing congestion on existing park routes. Kingsbarn’s attorney, Lanny Davis, contended that the project would bring a net environmental benefit by limiting automobile exhaust exposure.
Broader context of federal land policy
The Yosemite proposal follows other recent Trump‑administration initiatives to reduce the footprint of federally protected lands. Earlier this year, the administration sought to shrink the size of protected areas in Utah and to permit portions of Big Bend National Park in Texas to be used for border‑security infrastructure.
Critics, including Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, have labeled the effort “hellbent on destroying everything that is sacred and beautiful about this country.” Newsom warned that California will not stand by while public lands are allegedly “grifted.”
Public reaction and advocacy response
Renowned climber Alex Honnold described the plan as “insane” and an “epitome of selling the future to cash out in the present.” Conservation groups, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, have pledged to take “every and all action” to protect Yosemite, warning that the exchange sets a dangerous precedent for privatizing national park lands.
U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, warned that the exchange could open the door for further sales of treasured public lands, stating, “Our parks belong to all of us and should be protected for every generation.”
Next steps
The proposal remains under review, and the Interior Department has indicated that any land exchange would be subject to a full environmental review and public notification process. Stakeholders on both sides are preparing for hearings and comment periods that could shape the final decision.
As the debate continues, the outcome will likely influence how the Trump administration balances private development interests with the constitutional principle of preserving public lands for the American people.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
