Hundreds of Groups and Lawmakers Demand Trump Not Give Private Developer Part of Yosemite

Key Points:

• Over 150 lawmakers and hundreds of advocacy groups have urged the Trump administration to reject a proposal to transfer a quarter-mile strip of Yosemite National Park to a private developer, citing concerns over privatization of public lands.
• The proposed land swap involves Kingsbarn Realty Capital, which seeks to build a road connecting its 83-acre property adjacent to Yosemite, granting rare private access to the park.
• Lawmakers argue the deal offers no public benefit, does not improve park access or services, and appears to prioritize private economic interests over public conservation goals.
• Advocacy organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club, warn that selling park land sets a dangerous precedent and undermines public trust, especially given Kingsbarn's political connections.
• Both lawmakers and advocacy groups call on Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to abandon the proposal, emphasizing that public lands should remain protected and publicly owned.