Rep. Vasquez Leads New Mexico Delegation in Urging Interior Secretary Burgum to Protect Chaco Canyon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Earlier this month, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) led an effort to protect New Mexico’s sacred lands by calling on U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse the Administration’s decision to begin the process of revoking Public Land Order (PLO) No. 7923, which safeguards the lands surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park (CCNHP) from new oil and gas leasing. 

Vasquez spearheaded a letter — joined by U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, and Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández and Melanie Stansbury — urging Secretary Burgum to uphold protections for the greater Chaco landscape.

“Chaco Canyon tells the story of our ancestors, and it’s our responsibility to ensure that story continues to be told by future generations,” said Vasquez. “Protecting this sacred landscape isn’t just about preserving history — it’s about honoring our commitments to Tribal nations and respecting their sovereignty. New Mexicans understand that economic progress and cultural preservation can go hand in hand, and revoking these protections would erase decades of productive cooperation and threaten sacred lands that define who we are.”

This effort builds on Vasquez’s strong record of leadership in protecting New Mexico’s sacred lands and cultural heritage. As Founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, Vasquez has united lawmakers from across the political spectrum to protect America’s public lands. He has also led the charge to reintroduce the Chaco Cultural Heritage Area Protection Act, landmark legislation that will permanently safeguard Chaco Canyon and the greater sacred landscape surrounding Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The bill would prohibit new oil, gas, and mineral leasing on non-Indian federal lands within a 10-mile buffer zone around the park — ensuring that these irreplaceable cultural treasures are preserved and that Tribal sovereignty and heritage are honored for generations to come.

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