Rep. Gabe Vasquez speaks to the House of Representatives, April 21. Courtesy photo

U.S. HOUSE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On April 21, 2026, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) delivered a speech on the House floor condemning the Administration’s decision to gut the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), citing concerns about increased wildfire risks and threats to public lands just ahead of Earth Day. 

“I’m a hunter, I’m an angler, and someone who spends a lot of time in my national forests. I know my supervisors, my district rangers, and even the volunteer crews. And as the co-founder of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, I don’t see a shred of common sense in this decision,” Vasquez said. 

“What I do see is another backdoor move by this Administration to push forward an anti-public lands agenda that discards career staff, under-resources our land agencies, and prioritizes corporations, rather than focusing on combatting wildfires, wildlife habitat, rural communities, and the growing outdoor recreation economy. We need more, not less, U.S. Forest Service resources and staff out West in places like New Mexico. Stripping resources from an agency that’s already stretched thin and struggling to mitigate the impact of wildfires is the opposite of common sense. It is stupidity,” Vasquez added.

Watch the 1-minute clip here.