Free Range
The federal grazing system, propped up by subsidies and access to 375,000 square miles of the West, disproportionately benefits billionaires, mining companies and large corporate outfits. Dwindling oversight has allowed grazing where it’s not allowed and for longer than permitted, damaging the environment.
Featured Posts in this Series
-
Wealthy Ranchers Profit From Public Lands. Taxpayers Pick Up the Tab.
A ProPublica and High Country News investigation found that government programs supporting grazing on public lands prop up a wealthy few while harming the environment. The Trump administration is supercharging the system.
-
A Loophole Allows Ranchers to Renew Grazing Permits With Little Scrutiny of the Environmental Impact
With dwindling oversight, cattle are grazing where they’re not supposed to and in greater numbers or for longer periods than permitted. This can spread invasive plants, pushing out native species and worsening wildfire risk.
3 stories published since 2025
