Hoeven Working to Secure Senate ENR Committee Approval of His Legislation to Maintain Wild Horses at TRNP

Committee Holds Hearing on Senator’s Legislation to Ensure Future of Park’s Horses, Require Herd of No Fewer than 150 Horses

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today made the case to his fellow members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee for his legislation to maintain wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP). Specifically, Hoeven’s bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to:

Maintain a genetically-diverse herd of no fewer than 150 horses in TRNP’s South Unit.
- The Department of the Interior is prohibited from removing horses from the park except as part of a plan to improve genetic diversity, in the case of an emergency or to protect public health and safety.
Within 120 days of the bill’s enactment, develop a plan to provide for the management of horses in the park.
On an annual basis, make available to the public information regarding the population, structure and health of the horse herd.

“Wild horses have long been a living, breathing part of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, and are a key part of the visitor experience,” said Senator Hoeven. “Unfortunately, there have been multiple attempts over the years to remove horses from the park. Each one has been met with overwhelming opposition from the public. That’s why we worked to craft this legislation, which provides a durable solution to permanently protect the horses at the park. I appreciate all of the partners and stakeholders who worked with us on this bill and urge my colleagues on the Senate ENR Committee to move to promptly approve this legislation. Doing so will bring us one critical step closer to ensuring the future of wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.”

The legislation comes as part of Hoeven’s efforts to ensure the National Park Service (NPS) maintains a herd of free-roaming horses at TRNP on a permanent basis. The senator previously:

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, passed a provision in annual funding legislation directing NPS to maintain “the historic scene commensurate with the historic herds during the period when President Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in the area.”
Advanced this priority with NPS officials, including Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost.
- On April 25, 2024, NPS formally terminated its proposed removal of horses at TRNP under the environmental assessment process initiated in 2022, and as a result, horses continue to be maintained at the park.

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