Federal land plan for western North Dakota voided by lawmakers

What does this do?

HJRES 105 uses the Congressional Review Act to cancel the North Dakota Field Office Resource Management Plan, which the Bureau of Land Management finalized on January 14, 2025. The plan had set rules for oil and gas drilling, grazing, recreation, conservation, and other uses of millions of acres of federal public land in North Dakota. With the cancellation signed into law on December 11, 2025, the plan has no legal force.

Who does it affect?

The resolution directly affects ranchers with grazing permits, oil and gas companies, hunters, hikers, and conservation groups that use or depend on federal public land in western North Dakota. Local communities whose economies are tied to activities on that federal land are also affected.

Why does it matter?

With the plan canceled, the BLM must revert to older guidance while any future planning process plays out. The Congressional Review Act also generally bars the BLM from issuing a new rule that is substantially the same without new authorization from Congress, creating ongoing uncertainty about what rules will govern those lands.

Where does it stand?