BLM Sold 3,700 Wild Horses to Unverified Buyers

The Bureau of Land Management sold 3,700 protected wild horses to unverified buyers in 2025, more than doubling the sale rate seen under the Donald Trump administration. An investigation by the New York Times found that a legal loophole allows the agency to sell these animals for as little as $25 by classifying them as domestic livestock, which strips them of federal protections. This creates a profit incentive for buyers to resell the horses to slaughterhouses for approximately $750 per animal.

Tracking efforts revealed that approximately 500 horses were sold to Ohio livestock trader Brandon Jones. Evidence, including border inspection photos and auction sightings, suggests these animals are exported to slaughter plants, primarily in Canada. While the agency requires buyers to sign contracts promising not to slaughter the animals, critics argue these agreements are ineffective. The Trump administration has furthered these concerns by proposing the elimination of congressional appropriations riders in the FY26 and FY27 budget requests that prohibit the killing of wild horses.

The agency currently maintains over 58,000 horses at an annual cost of $100 million. In response to the allegations, the agency stated it remains dedicated to placing animals into good homes and upholding its statutory responsibilities regarding animal welfare.