Gila Herald Staff Reports
TUCSON — U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wild Horse Caucus, joined 17 of his bicameral colleagues on Thursday to demand a federal investigation into the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program over concerns that federally protected animals are ending up in the slaughter pipeline.
In a bipartisan letter sent to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), lawmakers requested a comprehensive audit following recent investigative reporting by The New York Times that raised serious questions about BLM sale practices, buyer screening procedures, and whether existing safeguards are being enforced to prevent slaughter.
“It’s long past time to fix the ongoing failures in how America’s wild horses are managed,” Ciscomani said in a statement. “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.”
Demanding Independent Oversight
The lawmakers are asking the GAO to conduct an independent review examining several key operational areas within the BLM’s management practices:
- Authority and policies governing wild horse and burro sales.
- Screening, tracking, and monitoring procedures for prospective buyers.
- Enforcement actions taken against buyers who violate sale agreements.
- Compliance with federal laws and congressional directives prohibiting the commercial slaughter of wild horses.
Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), who co-chairs the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus alongside Ciscomani, emphasized the urgent need to halt illegal channels.
“We now know what we have long suspected — that the BLM has been selling off wild horses that end up in slaughterhouses,” Titus said. “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 receive the protections they are guaranteed by federal law.”
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) noted that federal law explicitly mandates the protection of wild horses and urged the administration to act immediately to ensure agency transparency.
Advocates Welcome Congressional Action
Animal welfare and conservation leaders praised the bipartisan coalition for pushing for systemic reform.
Patricia Miller, Executive Director of American Wild Horse Conservation, called the GAO investigation a critical step toward uncovering and eliminating systemic abuses.
“No federal program should allow America’s treasured and legally protected wild horses and burros to be funneled into the slaughter pipeline,” Miller said. “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.”
Manda Kalimian, Founder and President of Rewilding America Now, added that wild horses remain an irreplaceable part of the nation’s heritage. “Slaughter is not a management tool, and Congress has made clear these iconic animals are to be protected, not destroyed with taxpayer dollars,” Kalimian said.
As part of his ongoing efforts as caucus co-chair, Ciscomani is also championing H.R. 4356, the Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025, alongside Reps. David Schweikert, Dina Titus, and Steve Cohen. The pending legislation aims to eliminate helicopter roundups in favor of humane, land-based management practices.
