Committee presses Interior on land exchanges, appraisals and field staffing in Western states

Members pressed Secretary Doug Burgum on the department’s authority and tools for land exchanges and on administrative processes that slow transfers and local projects. Burgum described a recent 200,000‑acre land exchange with Utah as a model and said the department has the tools necessary to complete swaps but will examine other authorities or administrative fixes where needed.

Committee members noted lengthy appraisal processes, certification bottlenecks and the number of administrative layers (field, district, regional, state and federal offices) that can complicate routine transactions. Burgum said streamlining should free staff for more “minutes on mission,” putting more rangers, biologists and appraisal staff in field offices rather than Washington administrative layers.

Several members raised staffing shortages in remote BLM offices, certified appraiser and minerals examiner scarcity, and the difficulty of recruiting and retaining workforce in remote locations. Burgum said part of the department’s restructuring goal is to move more staff to the front lines and reduce administrative overhead.

Why it matters: land exchanges, timely appraisals and sufficient field staff affect local planning, affordable housing projects that rely on nearby federal lands, grazing and mining permits, and wildfire and recreation management in Western states. Members said reforming appraisal requirements and reorganizing layers could speed projects without sacrificing environmental reviews and tribal consultation.

Discussion versus decision: Burgum described completed exchanges and signaled the department will review authorities and administrative rules. No new statutory authority was adopted; members asked for follow‑up on specific appraisal timelines and staffing plans.

Ending: the secretary committed to continue working with governors and the committee on transfers and on improving field staffing and permitting timelines.