The Government Shutdown: Impact on Wild Horses

(December 22, 2018)Late last night,Congressfailed to reach an agreement on a Continuing Resolution to keep the government running, leading to a partial government shutdown. This situation could impact many federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of the Interior. Here are five ways that wild horses and burros could be affected.

#1. Care for Wild Horses and Burros

Wild horses and burros in Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) holding facilities will continue to be fed and cared for. TheBLMhas confirmed to American Wild Horse Conservation (formerly American Wild Horse Campaign) that this is considered an essential government service that will continue during the shutdown.

#2. Potential Delays in Roundups and Sales

Pending wild horse roundups and sales could be delayed or canceled. Depending on the length of the shutdown, it could affect the timing of the next scheduled roundup in the Pine Nut Mountains Herd Management Area (HMA) in Nevada. This means that over 600 wild horses targeted for removal on January 7th could enjoy extra days or weeks of freedom on public lands, depending on how long it takes forCongressand the Administration to agree on a spending bill.

It is also likely that planned saleseventsfor the Devil’s Garden wild horses will be canceled or delayed. This is positive news for the horses, as the Forest Service recently announced plans to sell these cherishedmustangsfor $1 each, albeit with limitations on slaughter.

#3. Legislative Protections

Even ifCongressreaches an agreement to restart the government, it will do so under a Continuing Resolution that will keep the government running under the provisions of the 2018 omnibus spending bill. This is good news for wild horses and burros, as the 2018 bill prevents theBLMfrom spending money to destroy, sell for slaughter, or perform surgical sterilization on wild horses and burros.

#4. Extension of Public Comment Deadlines

Deadlines for public comments on various proposed actions related to federally protected wild horses and burros may be extended. This may include certainBLMproposals related to the agency’s compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 that are now open for public comment.

#5. Advocacy and Action

Wild horse and burro advocates will need to remain ready to act, but at the right time. Calls toCongressat this moment urging continued protections for wild horses and burros are likely to be lost amid the noise on Capitol Hill.

It’s unclear whetherCongresswill return to deliberating actual Fiscal Year 2019 spending legislation. When and if it does, members will decide between the Senate Interior Appropriations bill (which prohibits killing and slaughter of wild horses and burros) and the House version (which allows for the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros, putting tens of thousands in danger of being killed). That will be the time to weigh in and ensure that the voice of 80 percent of Americans who oppose the killing and slaughter of America’s iconicmustangsand burros is heard.

Stay informed, stay ready, and stay tuned. We will keep you updated!