Trump Administration Pressures NPS to Transfer Yosemite Land

The Trump administration is reportedly pressuring the National Park Service to transfer a quarter-mile parcel of land within Yosemite National Park to Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a private developer based in Nevada. The developer owns 83 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the park and seeks the parcel to build a short road connecting its property to a central Yosemite route, which would bypass a current 10-mile indirect access path.

Leadership within the United States Department of the Interior has proposed a land exchange, offering the park parcel in return for land of equal value elsewhere in California. While a Department of the Interior spokesperson denied that political pressure was used to reach a predetermined outcome, sources cited by Notus described the pressure as "very unusual."

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from environmental advocates, Congressman Jared Huffman, and California's senators. Opponents characterize the move as an attempt to privatize public lands for the benefit of wealthy donors. Advocates have specifically accused Interior Secretary Doug Burgum of secretly negotiating the transfer to benefit the developer.