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Congress should reject severe proposal that abandons bipartisan protections and ignores humane, proven alternatives<\/em><\/p>\n WASHINGTON (June 4, 2025)\u2014Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund, formerly called Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund, sharply criticized the Trump administration\u2019s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal that would gut longstanding protections for wild horses and burros. The White House seeks to slash funding for humane management and remove safeguards that would open the door to the slaughter of federally protected wild horses and burros for the first time in decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n This proposal, previewed in the Project 2025 Mandate for Leadership document produced by allies of President Donald Trump, threatens the lives of tens of thousands of federally protected wild horses and burros. While it may not explicitly mandate slaughter, Project 2025 lays out a clear policy framework that would open the door to mass removals and lethal outcomes for wild horses and burros, representing a stark break from the bipartisan consensus that has long protected these iconic animals.<\/p>\n \u201cFor decades, Americans have stood firmly against the slaughter of federally protected wild horses and burros. This proposal disregards scientific evidence, proven solutions and the clear voice of public opposition,\u201d said Kitty Block, president and CEO of Humane World for Animals. \u201cWild horses and burros are symbols of freedom and resilience, and we must ensure the use of responsible and humane approaches to their management. Instead, this proposal puts them on the chopping block.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cVelma Bronn Johnston, also known as Wild Horse Annie, who advocated for the protection of wild horses and burros from roundups for kills and lethal poisonings must be rolling in her grave,\u201d said Sara Amundson, president of Humane World Action Fund. \u201cThe Trump Administration should not sidestep federal law to lift protections for these iconic horses and burros, and Congress has a responsibility to reject this short-sighted proposal.\u201d<\/p>\n The president\u2019s budget proposes a 25% cut to the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s Wild Horse and Burro Program and seeks to eliminate the longstanding prohibition on slaughtering wild horses and burros. If enacted, this would reverse decades of hard-won protections and expose tens of thousands of animals to brutal, inhumane killing while doing nothing to address the core challenges of rangeland management.<\/p>\n \u201cCreating a void on the range by killing these beacons of our country\u2019s wild west heritage will only lead to a resurgence of the populations,\u201d continued Amundson. \u201cCongress must strengthen investments in humane, effective solutions that already exist, including fertility control, expanded adoption programs and responsible placement of horses. This approach has earned broad and growing support from a diverse coalition of wild horse and burro advocates, the ranching community, conservationists and land managers.\u201d<\/p>\n Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund has long supported a humane, science-based management plan for wild horses. In partnership with other animal welfare leaders, wild horse and burro advocates, ranchers and land managers, we sought to replace outdated practices with a sustainable, non-lethal approach built on four pillars: large-scale fertility control, strategic gathers, rehoming to humane pastures and expanded, responsible adoptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through one aspect of this program, Humane World for Animals has directly worked with the Bureau of Land Management to place some wild mustangs into permanent sanctuary at Black Beauty Ranch, our 1,400-acre refuge in Texas where rescued horses and other animals live out their lives in safety. The overall goal is to phase out mass removals and ensure humane, sustainable management of wild herds. Unfortunately, despite bipartisan support in Congress, the Bureau of Land Management\u2014under both Democratic and Republican administrations\u2014has never fully implemented the four-pillar plan. Now, rather than adopting a widely supported solution, the Trump Administration is proposing to slaughter wild horses and burros.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve long advocated for a scientifically backed plan that would right the sinking ship of the Bureau of Land Management\u2019s Wild Horse and Burro Program,\u201d added Block. \u201cBut now instead of embracing real change that the public has demanded, this budget proposal ignores those humane solutions.”<\/p>\n Currently, more than 73,000 wild horses and burros roam public lands, with an additional 64,756 in government holding facilities. Ongoing environmental pressures and mismanagement have left the program in crisis, but proven solutions exist, and extermination is not one of them. Congress now faces an obvious choice and that is to protect these living icons of the American West. \u00a0<\/p>\n Read more about how U.S. President Trump\u2019s budget abandons wild horses and burros to a grim fate on the Humane World Action Fund Blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n # About Humane World for Animals and Humane World Action Fund
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\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Humane World for Animals: Emily Gugel, eehrhorn@humaneworld.org<\/a>, 202-779-1814
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Humane World Action Fund: Liz Bartolomeo, ebartolomeo@humaneaction.org<\/a>, 240-472-0475<\/p>\n
For over 70 years, the Humane World family has worked to tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to permanent change. Formerly called the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Humane Society Legislative Fund, we operate in over 50 countries with millions of supporters. Through advocacy, policy change, public education and direct care, we work to end the cruelest practices, care for animals in crisis and build a stronger animal protection movement. Together, we are creating a humane world.
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