Sponsors (2)
The bill ensures a protected, genetically diverse herd and stronger public monitoring while trading off higher taxpayer costs and reduced manager flexibility that could permit ecological harm or increase conflicts with neighboring communities.
Visitors, tourists, and wildlife enthusiasts will have and study a stable, genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses in the park, supporting recreation and local tourism.
The public and managers will get annual population, structure, and health monitoring with public reports, increasing transparency and enabling more science-based, accountable management.
Taxpayers and the Department of the Interior will benefit from a required cost-effective management plan produced within 120 days meant to protect park natural resources while limiting unnecessary spending.
Park natural resources and native wildlife could suffer if prohibitions on removals (except for genetic diversity, emergencies, or public safety) prevent managers from reducing population-driven damage or addressing long-term overpopulation.
Taxpayers will likely face increased federal management costs for maintaining a mandated minimum herd of 150 horses (feeding, veterinary care, and oversight).
Local governments and neighboring landowners could face increased conflict and cross-boundary damages if operational limits on removals lead horses to move off park lands or cause harm to adjacent properties.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Interior to maintain a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 horses in the park's South Unit, create a management plan within 120 days, restrict removals, and require annual public monitoring and reports.
Requires the Interior Department to keep a genetically diverse herd of at least 150 wild horses in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and to prepare a cost‑effective management plan within 120 days. It generally bars removing horses from federal land inside the park except to preserve genetic diversity, respond to emergencies, or protect public health and safety, and it requires annual monitoring, assessment, and public reporting on the herd's population, structure, and health.
Introduced April 9, 2025 by John Hoeven · Last progress June 15, 2026