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The Trump administration is reportedly considering a land swap involving a small section of Yosemite National Park and a private real estate developer, though the U.S. Department of the Interior says no final decision has been made.
The proposed deal would involve Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a Nevada-based company that owns an 83-acre plot of land just outside the national park and wants to build a private road into Yosemite.
The developer would provide land of equal value in return for a parcel in Yosemite National Park, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park’s former superintendent, said he opposes the proposal.
“I think it’s basically illegal, number one. We just don’t do this kind of activity. We don’t transfer public lands to other entities,” Neubacher said. “It even went to Congress this past year. They wanted to get approval from Congress to do it, but Congress said no.”
Neubacher worked for the National Park Service for 36 years and retired as Yosemite’s superintendent in 2016. He said he is concerned that the land swap is being considered because of the potential impact on wildlife and park resources.
“Five million visitors that already have access to the park. But this particular area is unique in the sense that there’s Pacific fishers, there’s lots of wildlife that great gray owls are found in this area that you would not want to disturb and you would want additional development,” Neubacher said.
“There’s enough pressure on the park already. There are a lot of developments outside Yosemite, and at least they’re playing by the rules,” he added.
President Donald Trump has not spoken publicly about the reported deal and the Department of the Interior said no final decision has been made.
California’s senators also weighed in on the proposal.
Sen. Adam Schiff said in a statement, “Yosemite is one of California’s natural wonders. The courts struck this project down once, but this administration appears hell-bent on moving forward. We will fight this again.”
Sen. Alex Padilla posted on X: “Yosemite is not for sale.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta also responded to the possibility of a land swap, saying the country’s national parks are not the property of any one administration and that his office is monitoring the situation.
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