Central ND News

In a recent Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Senator John Hoeven secured the agreement of Katharine MacGregor, nominated for Deputy Secretary of the Interior, to cooperate on legislation aimed at protecting wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park (TRNP).

Senator Hoeven stated, “We continue our efforts to ensure that the National Park Service fulfills its commitment to protecting wild horses in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. At the same time, we are working to secure Kate MacGregor's confirmation as Interior Deputy Secretary, and I look forward to working with her to implement a long-term management plan that preserves a healthy, genetically diverse herd of horses for future generations to enjoy.”

Hoeven has been actively working to ensure that the National Park Service maintains a herd of free-roaming horses in TRNP. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he successfully included a provision in the annual funding legislation instructing the National Park Service to sustain “the historic scene commensurate with the historic herds during the period when President Theodore Roosevelt was a rancher in the area.”

In addition, Hoeven has advanced this priority with National Park Service officials, including Midwest Regional Director Bert Frost. On April 25, 2024, the National Park Service officially terminated its proposed plan to remove horses from TRNP under an environmental assessment process initiated in 2022. As a result, these horses will continue to roam within the park.