American Stewards of Liberty (ASL) is calling on Congress to include reforms in the upcoming budget reconciliation package that would strengthen coordination between federal land management agencies and state, local, and tribal governments, arguing that current practices too often sideline the communities most directly affected by federal land decisions.
At the center of ASL’s recommendation is a requirement that all federal land management agencies formally coordinate their land use plans and policies with state and local governments, as contemplated under existing law but inconsistently implemented in practice. The organization is also urging Congress to provide dedicated funding to ensure these coordination requirements are meaningfully carried out.
“Federal law already recognizes the importance of coordination, but in practice it is too often treated as optional,” said Margaret Byfield, Executive Director of ASL. “Reconciliation gives Congress the opportunity to make coordination real, consistent, and enforceable across agencies.”
ASL argues that strengthening coordination would help ensure that federal policies do not inadvertently undermine local economies, public safety, or land use priorities, while also improving transparency and compliance with state open meeting laws.
The organization is also framing the reform as a structural fix to longstanding fragmentation across agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Forest Service, which often develop plans independently despite overlapping impacts on the same communities.
“This is about aligning decision-making with the people who live with the consequences,” Byfield said. “When federal agencies coordinate with local governments, outcomes are more durable, more transparent, and more reflective of real-world conditions.”
ASL said including these provisions in reconciliation would provide Congress with a direct mechanism to improve federal land management outcomes while reinforcing principles of local governance and accountability.
