/tags/u-s-department-of-the-interior U.S. Department of the Interior en-US Copyright Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:20:35 GMT /local-news/2025-10-30/interior-layoffs-cripple-new-mexico-wildfire-research Earlier this month, the Department of the Interior submitted court documents outlining its plans to lay off just over 2,000 employees nation-wide amid the ongoing government shutdown. While these firings have been put on hold, for now, they could strip New Mexico of already scarce wildfire research resources. Thu, 30 Oct 2025 20:20:35 GMT /local-news/2025-10-30/interior-layoffs-cripple-new-mexico-wildfire-research Bryce Dix /local-news/2025-10-16/doge-cuts-new-mexico-conservation Last month, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced it had partnered with the Department of the Interior to cut $14 million worth of environmental grants, including $2.5 million for New Mexico. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:18:41 GMT /local-news/2025-10-16/doge-cuts-new-mexico-conservation Bryce Dix /local-news/2025-09-10/trump-slash-public-lands-rule-energy-development President Trump’s Department of the Interior wants to rescind the "Public Lands Rule" – saying it stands in the way of “legitimate” uses of land, including mining, grazing, energy development, and recreation. Wed, 10 Sep 2025 19:13:40 GMT /local-news/2025-09-10/trump-slash-public-lands-rule-energy-development Bryce Dix /local-news/2024-06-14/buffalo-tribes-legislation Buffalos have long played a significant role for many Native American tribes. They have provided clothing, food, shelter and much more. This week, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., introduced bipartisan legislation to create a permanent buffalo program that would help tribes manage current and future herds. Fri, 14 Jun 2024 22:24:58 GMT /local-news/2024-06-14/buffalo-tribes-legislation Jeanette DeDios /local-news/2024-06-13/pueblo-of-santa-ana-buys-back-its-historic-land For generations, Native American tribes have fought for the return of their lands lost to the United States. In a historic move on Wednesday, the Pueblo of Santa Ana and Bureau of Indian Affairs signed an agreement allowing the federal government to take the former King Alamo Ranch into trust for the tribe. Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:02:26 GMT /local-news/2024-06-13/pueblo-of-santa-ana-buys-back-its-historic-land Jeanette DeDios /local-news/2024-05-03/departments-of-interior-and-justice-respond-to-report-on-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-crisis Among Native American communities, people go missing and experience violence at disproportionately high rates. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) - the first Native cabinet secretary - has been working to implement the Not Invisible Act, which she helped pass as a Congresswoman in 2019. A commission traveled round the country hearing testimony from survivors, advocates, law enforcement and tribal leaders. It released a list of recommendations last November, and now the Departments of Justice and Interior have responded. Fri, 03 May 2024 22:16:02 GMT /local-news/2024-05-03/departments-of-interior-and-justice-respond-to-report-on-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-people-crisis Jeanette DeDios /local-news/2024-04-16/muleshoe-national-wildlife-refuge-gets-federal-support-to-expand Four National Wildlife Refuges across the country now have support from the federal government to expand, and Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, which spans across the Texas-New Mexico border, is one of them. Tue, 16 Apr 2024 22:33:13 GMT /local-news/2024-04-16/muleshoe-national-wildlife-refuge-gets-federal-support-to-expand Megan Myscofski /local-news/2024-04-05/wildland-firefighters-fight-for-pay-bump This summer, Congress is set to look at President Joe Biden’s budgetary requests for FY 2025. Included in that is $1.6 billion for the Interior Department to reduce wildfire risk. Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:06:53 GMT /local-news/2024-04-05/wildland-firefighters-fight-for-pay-bump Bryce Dix /local-news/2023-05-02/interior-department-seeks-input-on-modernizing-the-indian-arts-and-crafts-act The U.S. Department of Interior held a listening session in Albuquerque last week to seek comments on proposed changes to the Indian Arts and Crafts Act. ������ reports that the proposed changes are designed to better protect Native artisans. Tue, 02 May 2023 22:11:32 GMT /local-news/2023-05-02/interior-department-seeks-input-on-modernizing-the-indian-arts-and-crafts-act Jeanette DeDios /news/2021-04-16/our-voice-is-going-to-be-respected-biden-restores-native-american-affairs-council The Biden administration will restore the White House Council on Native American Affairs, an interagency initiative that coordinates federal services and… Fri, 16 Apr 2021 21:41:03 GMT /news/2021-04-16/our-voice-is-going-to-be-respected-biden-restores-native-american-affairs-council