Ciscomani Co-Leads Bipartisan Call for GAO Investigation into BLM Wild Horse Sales
'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.'
Tucson, AZ - Representative Juan Ciscomani, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, co-led 17 of his colleagues in a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program. This request comes after alarming reports that federally protected wild horses have entered the slaughter pipeline. The lawmakers’ call follows recent New York Times reporting that raised concerns about BLM’s sale practices and questioned whether existing safeguards are adequately protecting wild horses and burros from being transferred to buyers who ultimately send them to slaughter. The lawmakers are asking GAO to conduct an independent review of BLM’s sale authority, purchaser screening and monitoring practices, enforcement procedures, and compliance with federal laws and congressional directives.
"It’s long past time to fix the ongoing failures in how America’s wild horses are managed. 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. 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," said Congressman Juan Ciscomani.
"We now know what we have long suspected — that the BLM has been selling off wild horses that end up in slaughterhouses," said Congresswoman Dina Titus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus. "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."
"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," said Congressman Mark Pocan.
"The GAO investigation is a critical step toward uncovering and eliminating abuses within the Sale Authority Program, abuses documented through AWHC’s longstanding investigation and recently brought to national attention by The New York Times. No federal program should allow America’s treasured and legally protected wild horses and burros to be funneled into the slaughter pipeline," said Patricia Miller, Chair, Board of Directors & Executive Director, American Wild Horse Conservation. "We are deeply grateful to Representative Dina Titus and her fellow Congressional Wild Horse Caucus co-chairs, Representatives Ciscomani, Cohen, and Pocan, for leading this essential oversight effort and advancing the agency accountability and lasting reform necessary to ensure these animals receive the protections promised to them under federal law."
"America’s wild horses are an irreplaceable part of our nation’s heritage and belong to the American people. Slaughter is not a management tool, and Congress has made clear these iconic animals are to be protected, not destroyed with taxpayer dollars. We are grateful to Congresswoman Dina Titus for her leadership, and to her colleagues for requesting a GAO audit of the BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program. This review will help bring greater transparency and accountability to the Sale Authority Program and move us toward humane, effective solutions. Slaughter is never the answer, and we must work together to find a better path forward," said Manda Kalimian, Founder and President of Rewilding America Now.
As Co-Chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, Ciscomani is leading the charge to protect America’s wild horses and burros. Working across the aisle, he partnered with Reps. David Schweikert, Dina Titus, and Steve Cohen to champion meaningful reform with H.R. 4356, the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025. This legislation would ban helicopter roundups and require innovative, humane alternatives including new opportunities for traditional cowboys.
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