Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) spearheaded a recent bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) demanding answers on the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) sale of wild horses to buyers who apparently intend to slaughter them.
The Context
The New York Times reported in August that a "legal loophole" is allegedly allowing BLM to sell wild horses to slaughterers, despite the practice being illegal.
As a result, Rep. Ciscomani and several other lawmakers demanded the GAO look into the Bureau's Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program to ensure its sale authority, buyer screening and monitoring, and enforcement procedures are being adequately followed.
What Lawmakers are Saying
"It's long past time to fix the ongoing failures in how America's wild horses are managed," said Rep. Ciscomani in his press release, adding, "For years, across both Republican and Democrat administrations, we've seen alarming reports of hostility toward these animals and serious questions about how the Bureau of Land Management is carrying out its responsibilities."
Rep. Ciscomani emphasized that "this cannot be a partisan issue. It's a stewardship issue. I'm proud to join this bipartisan effort to demand accountability, protect our wild horses, and push for real solutions that address the problem head-on."
Representative Dina Titus (D-NV), one of the letter's cosigners and Chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, said, "We now know what we have long suspected — that the BLM has been selling off wild horses that end up in slaughterhouses. This practice must end now. I am leading my Congressional colleagues in demanding an investigation of the Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program to ensure wild horses and burros received the protections they are guaranteed by federal law."
Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI) added, "Our laws demand that we protect wild horses, not send them to slaughter. Congress has always worked in a bipartisan manner to protect these animals, and we need accountability and oversight at the Bureau of Land Management immediately. We hope this request will force the Administration to do the right thing."
