In a significant legal move, Governor Greg Gianforte, alongside the Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration. The lawsuit aims to halt the implementation of Yellowstone National Park’s (YNP) Bison Management Plan, which the state argues violates several federal laws.

Governor Gianforte expressed frustration over the National Park Service’s (NPS) handling of the plan, stating, “The National Park Service has repeatedly and consistently failed to engage with the State in a meaningful and transparent manner as required by law throughout the planning process. NPS has not given us a fair shake and has ignored concerns raised by the State. We will always defend our state from federal overreach.”

The State of Montana has been vocal about its concerns since 2022, when the NPS first announced its intent to draft the plan. In 2023, Governor Gianforte criticized the proposed alternatives, citing a lack of cooperation from YNP, deficient analysis, and failure to meet its own mandates.

Mike Honeycutt, Director of the Department of Livestock, emphasized the potential health risks, “Given the way NPS has ignored feedback from Montana, we have major concerns about potential threats to animal health from the possible spread of brucellosis.”

Christy Clark, Director of FWP, highlighted the contentious nature of bison management, “Bison represent a complex and contentious issue with both livestock producers and wildlife advocates. We had hoped for and asked for a better and more transparent process in developing this EIS. Those requests were ignored.”

Earlier in the year, Governor Gianforte sent a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and NPS leadership, expressing disappointment over the lack of cooperation. The letter stated, “YNP has avoided substantive, collaborative discussions with the State’s scientists and technical advisors at every turn.”

The lawsuit underscores the ongoing tension between state and federal authorities over wildlife management and the broader implications for local economies and ecosystems. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for how federal and state agencies collaborate on environmental and wildlife management issues in the future.

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