Turning Vision into Action with “Make America Beautiful Again” Executive Order
Yosemite National Park, Image: Matt Antonioli
America has a long tradition of protecting public lands and waters—and of making them accessible for outdoor recreation, adventure, and enjoyment. Outdoor recreation is deeply woven into our national identity, and public lands have become the foundation of a $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy that supports 5 million jobs nationwide.
Earlier in July, the administration issued a new executive order (EO) titled “Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission.” The EO lays out the administration’s vision to elevate the role of public lands and waters. The stated goals of the EO are commendable, and if followed by policy and administrative action, would benefit the outdoor recreation community.
The EO promises to “prioritize responsible conservation, restore our lands and waters, and protect our Nation’s outdoor heritage for the enjoyment of the American people.” It acknowledges the importance of maintaining and investing in public lands, with specific reference to the growing deferred maintenance backlog.
Coming on the heels of legislative proposals to sell off millions of acres of public land, this EO may signal a course correction and a repudiation of sell-off efforts. While the EO is largely a messaging effort, it could also lay the groundwork for more pro-public lands administrative action. Its message—that public lands matter to Americans, to our history, and to our economy, and that they should be conserved and cared for—is largely consistent with the values of the outdoor community.
The EO also references the maintenance backlog on public lands and President Trump’s legacy of supporting park and public lands, stating, “The National Park Service and the United States Forest Service face more than $23 billion and $10.8 billion in deferred maintenance, respectively, leaving roads, trails, and historic landmarks in disrepair. Despite these challenges, our Nation has proven that conservation and economic growth go hand in hand. Since the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-152), the outdoor recreation economy has grown to $1.2 trillion in economic output, and, in 2023, comprised 3.1 percent of employees in the United States and supported 5 million jobs.”
President Trump signed the Great American Outdoors Act into law during his first term, as well as signing the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, a sweeping package of public lands protections.
In practical terms, the EO’s only real action is to establish a commission that will advise the administration on how to conserve natural resources that include protecting fish and wildlife, clean water, and expanded access to public lands, including for outdoor recreation. We hope that the commission generates real policy outcomes to benefit outdoor recreation experiences.
There are numerous opportunities at the moment to turn the values of this Making America Beautiful Again EO into policy actions, including:
Ensuring that development on public lands is balanced with recreation access and conservation;
Ensuring that the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other agencies have the staffing and funding they need to preserve our nation’s public lands;
Protect our nation’s unique wild backcountry lands, forests, rivers, deserts, and mountains that provide incomparable American outdoor recreation opportunities;
Reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund from the Great American Outdoors Act to continue tackling the deferred maintenance backlog on public lands.
Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance, said “Public lands are part of what makes this country extraordinary. This executive order lays out a compelling vision that recognizes the value of public lands—not just as economic engines, but as places where people go to connect with nature, find adventure, and recharge. Turning that vision into reality will depend on meaningful policy and administrative action—like reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund and continuing to invest in stewardship and access. If the administration follows through, it could make a lasting difference for the outdoors.”