Fall 2026 Newsletter
As we enter the beautiful autumn months, Western Justice is celebrating milestones and looking forward to the year ahead. We are accomplishing great things, all because people like you believe in us and our mission to protecting and preserving the Western way of life.
Proposed L.A. Rodeo Ban Defeated
In February 2021, Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Blumenfield introduced a measure that would have effectively banned rodeo and rodeo-like events in Los Angeles. In response, Western Justice spearheaded the effort to form the unprecedented Western Sports Industry Coalition, bringing together over 60 western lifestyle groups to stand in opposition. After a five-year fight, we are proud to say that the Los Angeles Council File 20-1575 officially expired in July 2026, and as of this writing, has not been reintroduced.
Throughout the process, Los Angeles Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez stood as a steadfast ally. Western Justice is pleased Rodriguez has now assumed a new role as the Chair of the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee, effective August 31, 2026. This committee oversees issues such as the proposed rodeo ban, making it highly unlikely for any new, similar proposed ordinances to make progress.
Our success defeating the proposed rodeo ban in Los Angeles is especially significant because:
1. A rodeo ban in one of the largest municipalities in the US would have set a dangerous precedent for others to follow.
2. The way that so many prominent Western sports industry groups came together to fight the ban demonstrated a previously unseen and formidable level of unity and strength in our community.
3. The Western Sports Industry Coalition now stands poised to fight any similar measures that are proposed—we set a historical precedent, proving that we will not bow down to the animal extremist agenda.
Western Justice’s Multi-Prong Approach to Delisting the Wolf
For decades, wolves have been largely protected as an endangered species in the lower 48 states. Interestingly, gray wolves have never been endangered on a global scale, with a world-wide population estimated to be close to 250,000.
For too long, rural communities have been forced to bear the consequences of unmanaged wolf populations. From livestock depredation and increased operating costs to drastic declines in ungulate populations, rural America has been stuck between a rock and a hard place, with limited means to defend their livestock and livelihoods.
Western Justice has been working alongside ranchers, outdoorsmen, rural communities, and government officials to fight for the federal delisting of the wolf and return management authority to the states where it belongs.
Western Justice formed the Delist the Wolf Coalition in the Spring of 2025 representing ranchers, farmers, hunters, outfitters, wildlife professionals, rural communities, and conservation advocates. Today, that coalition has grown to 2,500 individual members and many large organizations representing approximately two and a half million stakeholders nationwide.
In October 2025, Western Justice took ranchers from Washington, Oregon, California, and Colorado to Washington D.C. for meetings with USDA and the Department of Interior to discuss the impact of wolves on their operations.
On March 31, 2026, Western Justice founder David Duquette and Washington rancher Mathan Knapp participated in a grazing roundtable in Washington, D.C., where USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing the Grazing Action Plan.
During the discussion, Knapp highlighted how unmanaged wolf populations have discouraged ranchers from obtaining grazing permits, bringing the issue directly to Secretary Rollins’ attention.
Following the meeting, Secretary Rollins began working closely with Knapp and Western Justice on the wolf issue, efforts that continue today. With Secretary Rollins’ support, wolf delisting was addressed in President Donald Trump’s September 2026 executive order, directing the Department of the Interior to review the federal listing status of gray and Mexican wolves.
In October 2026, the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy contacted Western Justice for assistance coordinating meetings to gather data on the economic impacts of wolves on rural communities. Since then, Western Justice has coordinated meetings in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, with plans underway for California.
The Department of the Interior is expected to announce its wolf recovery determination in early December 2026. Regardless of the outcome, Western Justice will remain steadfast in the fight to delist the wolf, restore state-level management, and ensure our ranchers and rural communities have the tools and authority necessary to protect their livestock, livelihoods, and way of life.
Learn more here: https://westernjustice.info/wolf
Wolves: True Conflict Documentary Series
On April 27, 2026, Western Justice released the first episode of its original YouTube documentary series, Wolves: True Conflict, exposing the impacts of wolf populations on ranchers and rural communities in northeastern Washington. Following its success, Episode 2 took viewers to northern California, where rural communities face similar challenges.
Through firsthand interviews with ranchers, economists, state officials, county commissioners, small business owners, a retired fish and game warden, and rural residents, the series exposes the financial, environmental, and emotional toll of wolf depredation and management policies.
With over 648,500 combined YouTube views, the series continues to gain national attention, reaching audiences and federal officials in Washington, D.C.
Wolves: True Conflict goes beyond the statistics and political debate; the series gives a voice to those living with these challenges every day. Through Wolves: True Conflict, Western Justice continues to bring national attention to the economic, environmental, and personal impacts of wolf populations while advocating for the return of wolf management authority to the states.
Watch both documentaries on Western Justice’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQvgWLBcYHqLgJxHBidKAA
Horse Protection Act
Western Justice continues to work toward modernizing equine welfare standards and curtailing unnecessary, egregious federal overreach into the horse industry, seeking a full repeal of the outdated 1971 Horse Protection Act (HPA). The HPA was enacted to eliminate the practice of “soring” in one small segment of the Tennessee Walking Horses Industry. Since then, the HPA has served its purpose, with recent statistics routinely showing at least 95% compliance.
Additionally, every U.S. state has animal welfare laws, as do the vast majority of horse industry associations. Federal involvement is simply no longer necessary.
Nevertheless, in recent years, there has been a push by animal extremist groups and their supporters to expand the HPA to cover all horse breeds and disciplines. This would, for one thing, require federal inspectors at all equine events, even those that have never practiced soring and have no reason to.
Read more here: https://westernjustice.info/post/western-justice-seeks-to-modernize-equine-welfare-standards
Amicus Brief on Behalf of Western Ranchers
In March of 2026, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed a memorandum that would open vacant allotments for grazing permits on federal land.
On August 13, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit challenging the expanded grazing plan and attempting to stop its implementation.
Western Justice has been asked to file an amicus brief on behalf of our members who are western land grazers. We are working closely with other organizations to ensure the livestock industry stands together, speaks with one voice, and presents a united front in this fight.
This issue reaches far beyond the ranch gate.
America’s cattle herd is at a 75-year low, while demand for beef remains strong. USDA has specifically identified expanded grazing opportunities and reduced regulatory barriers as part of its effort to strengthen the domestic beef industry and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
At a time when America needs to rebuild its cattle herd and strengthen its domestic food supply, we should be supporting policies that give American ranchers more opportunities to produce, not fighting to take those opportunities away.
Western Justice is standing to fight with our nation’s western lands grazers to keep America’s ranchers on the land, cattle on the range, and beef on American tables.
The first phase of the amicus brief is going to cost $28,000, and we need your financial support.
This goes through our Western Justice C3, and it is a tax-deductible donation.
Onward We Go
As 2026 nears its end, we encourage you to consider supporting our work by joining or donating.
Western Justice is unique in structure and strategy. We are not a large bureaucracy. We are multigenerational ranchers, veterinary technicians, horse trainers, breeders, and competitors—from open riders to seasoned non-pros—who live and work in the communities we serve.
Whether we are advocating for sound legislation, bringing attention to rural issues, or defending Western heritage, the Western Justice team pairs passion with professionalism to produce change that lasts.
That approach lets us educate and advocate with efficiency and effectiveness. Dollars go to research, outreach, and defense of the western way of life, not to overhead that never reaches the fight. From federal land and grazing policy to the horse industry, livestock protection, and the sporting traditions that hold our communities together, we stay focused on the threats against rural America.
Year-end support carries that work into the next session, the next hearing, and the next community that needs a clear voice. Memberships and donations make the research, the education, and the advocacy possible. If this mission matters to you, we invite you to join or donate before the year closes.
Contributions to Western Justice 501(c)(3) are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Contributions to Western Justice Legislative Fund 501(c)(4) are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. They may be deductible as trade or business expenses, if ordinary and necessary in the conduct of the taxpayer’s business. Please consult with your tax adviser.
Thank you for your continued support,
Western Justice Team
Western Justice 501(c)(3)
Western Justice Legislative Fund 501(c)(4)
