U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has introduced new legislation aimed at permanently blocking future federal administrations from expanding control over large swaths of private land in West Texas, reigniting a long-running debate over federal land authority and property rights in the region.
The bill, called the No FED in West Texas Act, is designed to prevent a repeat of a Biden-era proposal that would have significantly expanded the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. That proposal sought to acquire up to 700,000 acres across Texas and New Mexico, an expansion critics described as a nearly 10,000% increase in size. The plan sparked strong opposition from ranchers, farmers, and local officials who warned it would drastically reshape land use across rural West Texas.
Although the Trump administration’s Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew the proposal in July 2025, Cruz and other supporters argue that rescinding a single policy does not address the underlying risk. Without congressional action, they say, future administrations could revive similar land acquisition efforts with minimal resistance.
Cruz framed the legislation as a defense of local control and economic development. “West Texas is vital to economic growth and energy for Texans, and decisions about its land should belong to Texans, not Washington bureaucrats. This bill will protect our communities from federal overreach, prevent land grabs that threaten jobs, and limit energy and agricultural development. I’m proud to join Rep. Arrington in advancing it,” Cruz said.
The measure has received backing from agricultural groups, including the Texas Farm Bureau and American Stewards of Liberty, both of which have been vocal critics of federal land expansion efforts in the region. Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening emphasized the role of private landowners in managing the state’s agricultural resources.
“Texas farmers and ranchers are the best stewards of their land, not the federal government. The Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) proposal to dramatically expand federal designations in West Texas originated during the previous administration and threatened to significantly expand the federal footprint on private land,” Boening said.
A companion version of the legislation has already made progress in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was introduced by Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX-19), whose district includes areas potentially affected by the proposed expansion. The bill has advanced through the House Natural Resources Committee, signaling early momentum among House Republicans.
Arrington has been sharply critical of the earlier federal proposal and its broader implications for land ownership and conservation policy. “The Biden Administration finalized a plan to buy up 30% of the land in the US by 2030, a significant part of which was expanding a wildlife refuge in West Texas by an outrageous 10,000%,” Arrington said in this week’s update. “I’m proud to have led the fight to defend our tax dollars, private property rights, and way of life.”
If enacted, the No Fed Act would go beyond blocking the specific withdrawn plan. It would prohibit future presidents from implementing similar large-scale land protection or acquisition initiatives tied to wildlife refuge expansion in the region, effectively limiting executive authority in this policy area.
Supporters say the legislation is ultimately about preserving private property rights and preventing uncertainty for rural landowners who depend on long-term stability for agriculture and energy production. For ranchers and farmers across West Texas, the debate is not just about conservation policy—it is about who controls the land itself, and whether those decisions remain local or shift to federal hands in Washington.
