Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO) wants the government to lift restrictions on oil and gas production that would free up millions of acres of federal land — much of it in his Colorado district — for drilling and other energy-related initiatives. 

The move, consistent with the Trump administration‘s push to increase domestic energy production, would reverse years of efforts to protect the land. It also widely ignores complaints from the public and environmentalists.  

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Specifically, the Productive Public Lands Act, introduced by the first term Republican congressman, would reverse decisions made under former President Joe Biden‘s administration and impact 2.3 million acres in Colorado alone as well as roll back protections for big game species under threat. The act also targets land in Wyoming, Oregon, and Montana. 

“This legislation forces the BLM [Bureau of Land Management] to adhere to their mandate of multiple use,” Hurd told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “Under the Biden Administration, these RMPs [Resource Management Plans] violated this mandate, and a reissue of these RMPs will allow for grazing, recreation, energy extraction, and more while ensuring the land’s long-term longevity to continue providing for these industries. This is a win for common sense public land policies.”

Hurd added that his legislation, which would reissue nine Biden-area RMPs that “would reactivate the resource potential of our public lands” and will “put us on a path to energy dominance, allowing for a more secure and prosperous United States.” 

Western Caucus Chairman Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) praised the Productive Public Lands Act. 

“The Biden Administration was hell-bent on locking up public lands, threatening the prosperity of rural economies across the country,” LaMalfa said. “Fortunately, a new era has dawned, and we have the opportunity to reverse these lockups and reinstate the multiple-use mandate on America’s public lands. The Productive Public Lands Act will open up the public’s land to be used for recreation, grazing, timber harvesting, drilling, mining, and other appropriate uses.”

Hurd was elected in November to represent Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. More than half of his district is federal public land. 

Colorado’s BLM staff have worked with local governments, tribal nations, the public, and businesses to come up with land management plans they have used in the past. Hurd’s legislation would require the agency to look for other options that are more friendly toward oil and gas developers. If they cannot find them, the act would require the BLM to revert to previous pre-Biden management practices.  

Aaron Weiss, the Center for Western Priorities’ deputy director, told Colorado Politics that Hurd is disregarding his district.

“For a brand-new member of Congress, you’d hope Jeff Hurd would spend more time listening to his constituents,” he said. “This bill would undermine the years of work that communities across Colorado have spent building an outdoor recreation economy. This bill ignores Colorado voters, who overwhelmingly want their member of Congress to protect clean water, clean air, and wildlife habitat instead of maximizing oil and gas drilling.

“Congress shouldn’t be in the business of micromanaging public lands. Voters across the West agree that decisions about public lands are best made by the expert ecologists, biologists, and land managers who spend years crafting these resource management plans. Congressman Hurd’s bill would undermine all of that.”

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The 2025 Conservation in the West Poll, which was released last month and includes feedback from voters in Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, found that the majority wanted their elected representatives to push for preservation and recreation on public lands versus energy production efforts. 

“Given a choice between protection and development, 72% of Westerners prefer their elected
officials to place more emphasis on protecting clean water sources, air quality, and wildlife habitat while
providing opportunities to visit and recreate on public lands,” the poll said. “By contrast, only 24% prefer their elected officials to prioritize the production of more domestic energy by maximizing the amount of national public lands available for responsible oil and gas production. Self-identified MAGA voters are split on the question, with 51% favoring an emphasis on protecting public lands and 44 percent wanting to maximize oil and gas production on public lands.”