This is a very interesting idea if done properly (aye, there's the rub)
Trump’s Push To Shrink Government Could Return National Parks To Tribes
For decades, America’s National Parks have been celebrated as “America’s best idea.” But this celebration often overlooks that their creation came at an unjust cost. When Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872—the first of its kind—it displaced the Crow, Shoshone, and other Indigenous nations who had lived healthy lives stewarding the land for thousands of years. This pattern was repeated across the country, excluding and displacing Indigenous Peoples to reservations, which today represent some of the poorest regions in the entire Western Hemisphere.
As President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress focus on scaling back government to reduce federal spending, a unique opportunity emerges. By transferring National Parks back to Tribal Governments, we can address a historic injustice in a way that aligns with conservative principles of market-driven solutions and limited government.
...
Making this vision a reality would require careful planning and multiple pathways are available to achieve it. For example, Congress could authorize the transfer of select pilot parks to Tribes with ancestral ties to the land, supported by a multi-year transition period. Federal agencies would provide technical training and funding for infrastructure upgrades during this time, ensuring a seamless handoff. Over time, as parks become self-sustaining, federal financial involvement would diminish. This would free up resources for other national priorities while empowering Tribes to lead their own futures together.
This proposal isn’t just about fixing National Parks, it’s about restoring dignity and opportunity. It’s about addressing a historic wrong in a way that benefits everyone: taxpayers, tourists, Indigenous Peoples and the environment alike. In a time of political division, this initiative offers rare common ground. Conservatives can champion it as a fiscally responsible way to reduce government spending and promote local control. Progressives can celebrate it as a landmark act of land restitution and environmental justice. Indigenous leaders can see it as a pathway to sovereignty and economic independence.
