Wyoming Outdoors Community Reacts to Trump’s ‘Make America Beautiful Again’ Initiative

A pair of new executive orders issued by President Donald Trump aimed at conserving public lands and promoting access to outdoor recreation have sparked a range of reactions among Wyoming hunters, conservationists, and outdoor enthusiasts, Gillette News Record reports.

Branded under the slogan “Make America Beautiful Again,” the initiative includes two major components: an order to increase national park entrance fees for foreign visitors—with the goal of addressing maintenance needs—and the creation of a new commission to advise the president on land conservation and economic growth.

While some Wyoming residents see potential in the effort, others remain skeptical about the administration’s long-term commitment to public lands.

“I appreciate any effort from the Trump administration to pursue those kinds of goals and objectives, and I actually take them seriously,” said Teton County Commissioner Mark Newcomb, who pointed to the Great American Outdoors Act—signed in 2020—as evidence that meaningful contributions to conservation are possible.

Still, many observers in Wyoming question the motivation behind the executive actions. Some link their timing to the bipartisan rejection of a controversial U.S. Senate proposal to sell public lands, which was shelved just days before the orders were issued.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if the executive order was his reaffirmation to the hunting and angling community that ‘I am still in your corner,’” said Sy Gilliland, former president of the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association. “It’s pretty powerful when everybody comes together on an issue and pulls in the same direction.”

Even so, Gilliland noted that the orders themselves aren’t groundbreaking.

“There’s nothing in there that’s earth-shaking or new,” he said, though he believes they could still be useful tools for advocates seeking practical changes, such as lifting specific land-use restrictions.

One example is the ban on chainsaw use in wilderness areas, which some Wyoming outfitters say has hindered trail access due to fallen trees. Gilliland supports a cautious, case-by-case review of such restrictions—a “scalpel approach” rather than a “shotgun” one.

Others view the executive orders as politically inconsistent or even contradictory. Christian Beckwith, founder and executive director of the Teton Climbers’ Coalition, said:

“The only thing that seems to be consistent here is the inconsistency and incoherence of this administration.”

The broader policy landscape also adds complexity. Trump’s administration recently issued a legislative proposal dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which calls for expanded logging, oil and gas drilling—including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—and lifts a moratorium on new coal leases. It also rescinds approximately $300 million in conservation funding from the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, while setting aside $150 million to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary next year.

Newcomb acknowledged the tension between conservation promises and extractive policy measures.

“I know it’s hard to imagine,” he said. “It’s hard to swallow all that.”

Nonetheless, some in Wyoming’s political sphere welcome the direction. Joe Jackson, spokesperson for US Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), said the orders reflect a shift toward “real management that improves public access,” while pushing back against efforts that he claims seek to curtail human activity on public lands.