Civic Action
Protect America’s Wild Horses
Why I’m sharing this
I love horses, and America’s wild horses are more than animals on public land. They are part of our landscape, our culture, and our history. I want that history, and the horses themselves, to remain part of what comes next.
My work is rooted in communication because I believe understanding can change what people do. Sometimes that means understanding another person or culture. Sometimes it means understanding a system well enough to recognize when what happens in practice no longer matches what was intended.
Good legislation should protect what it was written to protect. When a gap opens between those protections and what happens in the real world, that gap deserves our attention.
You don’t have to understand every law, agency, or policy to make your voice useful. You just need reliable information, a clear way to act, and sometimes the words to help you begin.
That’s what I hope this page gives you.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the federal agency responsible for managing and protecting wild horses and burros on millions of acres of public land in the western United States.
Last verified August 30, 2026
What’s happening
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) removes wild horses from public land and sells some of them to private buyers. BLM’s official policy prohibits selling these animals for slaughter, and buyers must agree to that in writing.
But once a horse is sold, it becomes private property and BLM no longer tracks it. In August 2026, a New York Times investigation documented federally branded mustangs turning up in the commercial slaughter pipeline after they left federal protection.
Congress can close that gap. That is what the actions below ask for.
Take action
Three ways to be heard
The most effective message goes to your own senators and representative. Offices prioritize people who live in their state or district.
Option one
Call Congress
It can take less than two minutes.
Find your senators and representative
Call the office
Use the office number listed in the directory, or call the U.S. Capitol switchboard and ask the operator to connect you.
You can say this
30 seconds
Hi, I'm [Name], a constituent from [City, State / ZIP]. I'm asking Senator/Representative [Name] to support the SAFE Act, H.R. 1661 / S. 775, and permanent protections that keep American horses, including federally managed wild horses, out of the slaughter pipeline. Please record my position and let me know where the Senator/Representative stands on the legislation. Thank you.
Want to say more?
Longer script
Hi, my name is [Name], and I'm a constituent from [City, State / ZIP Code]. I'm calling because I'm concerned about American horses, including federally managed wild horses, entering the slaughter pipeline after leaving federal protection. I'm asking Senator/Representative [Name] to support the Save America's Forgotten Equines, or SAFE, Act, H.R. 1661 / S. 775, and other efforts that prevent horses from being transported or exported for slaughter for human consumption. I would also like to see stronger safeguards and accountability for federally managed wild horses after they are sold or transferred out of federal care. Could you please let me know the Senator's/Representative's position on these protections and pass along my request? Thank you.
If you reach voicemail, this is enough. Leave your name, city/state, ZIP code, phone number if you want a return call, and your request to support the SAFE Act.
Before you call
- Have your ZIP code ready. Congressional offices use it to confirm constituency.
- Ask for one or two specific actions rather than trying to explain the entire issue.
- Be respectful to staff. Their job is to record constituent views and route questions.
- Ask for the office's position and whether someone can follow up with you.
Option two
Send a message
Copy this letter, personalize the first few sentences if you’d like, and send it through your lawmaker’s contact form.
Subject: Please support permanent protections for America's horses Dear Senator/Representative [Name], I am writing as your constituent to ask you to support permanent federal protections that prevent American horses, including federally managed wild horses and burros, from entering the slaughter pipeline. Recent investigative reporting has documented federally branded mustangs appearing in the commercial slaughter pipeline after being sold through the Bureau of Land Management's Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program. BLM states that it does not sell animals for slaughter, but it also acknowledges that once an animal is sold, it becomes private property and the agency no longer tracks it. I urge you to support the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, H.R. 1661 / S. 775, and other bipartisan efforts that permanently prohibit the slaughter of equines for human consumption and their transportation or export for that purpose. I also ask Congress to support transparent, humane management of federally protected wild horses and burros and effective safeguards that prevent animals removed from public lands from later entering the slaughter pipeline. Please let me know what action you are taking on these protections. Thank you for your service and for considering my request. Sincerely, [Name] [City, State] [ZIP Code]
Congressional offices are most interested in hearing from their own constituents. Including your city, state, and ZIP helps identify you as one.
Option three
Contact BLM
BLM asks people with factual information about potentially inhumane treatment, or about a federally protected horse or burro being sold to slaughter, to report what they know.
You can say this
Hello, my name is [Name]. I'm calling because I'm concerned about federally managed wild horses entering the slaughter pipeline after being sold or transferred out of federal care. I understand BLM's stated policy is that wild horses and burros are not to be sold for slaughter, and that BLM has strengthened its sales safeguards. I'm asking what additional steps are being taken to prevent federally managed animals from entering the slaughter pipeline after a sale and to hold buyers accountable when the terms of sale are violated. If there is a formal way for members of the public to submit concerns or specific evidence, please tell me where to send it. Thank you.
If you are reporting a specific horse or incident, have any freeze-mark number, sale information, photographs, dates, locations, buyer information, or other factual documentation available. Stick to what you personally know or can document.
Want to understand more?
Everything here is sourced, and the sources are listed below.
What do we actually know?
- BLM’s official program data show 3,718 wild horses and burros were sold in FY2025, compared with 1,509 in FY2024. Of the FY2025 sales, 2,387 were horses and 1,331 were burros.
- A New York Times investigation, published August 20, 2026, examined government and livestock records and reported that federally branded mustangs sold by BLM later appeared on trucks bound for Canadian slaughter plants.
- BLM states that it does not sell or send wild horses or burros to slaughter and that purchasers must agree to humane-care and anti-processing terms.
- BLM also states that once an animal is sold, it becomes private property and BLM does not track it after the sale. That loss of federal tracking is central to the concern identified by the investigation.
- Following concerns about buyers exploiting the program, BLM strengthened its Bill of Sale language. Purchasers must now certify that they will not knowingly, recklessly, or negligently transfer an animal to a person or organization intending to process it, or facilitate that processing.
The distinction matters: BLM’s stated policy prohibits sales for slaughter. The documented problem is what can occur after title transfers and federal tracking ends.
How could a horse still reach slaughter?
Federal protections change when a sale is completed. Under BLM’s sale program, eligible animals can be transferred into private ownership. BLM says it does not track sold animals afterward. Recent reporting documented cases in which federally branded mustangs later appeared in the commercial slaughter pipeline. The policy change BLM has since made is intended to make buyers who knowingly, recklessly, or negligently facilitate that outcome ineligible and potentially subject to referral to law enforcement.
What legislation could change this?
SAFE Act of 2025: H.R. 1661 / S. 775
Horse slaughter and export. Not yet law.
Bipartisan legislation that would prohibit slaughtering equines for human consumption and prohibit shipping, transporting, purchasing, selling, donating, or otherwise moving equines for that purpose, including export for slaughter.
House: H.R. 1661, introduced by Rep. Vern Buchanan with Rep. Jan Schakowsky among the bipartisan lead cosponsors; referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
Senate: S. 775, introduced by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Ben Ray Luján; referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
BUILD America 250 Act: H.R. 8870
Transportation for slaughter. Not yet law.
In May 2026, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 8870 with a bipartisan Van Drew and Titus amendment prohibiting the transportation of horses for slaughter for human consumption. The committee-approved bill was advanced for House consideration; it has not become law.
Wild Horse and Burro Protection Act of 2025: H.R. 4356
Roundup methods. A separate issue. Not yet law.
A separate proposal focused on federal roundup methods, including restrictions on helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft use. It is distinct from the SAFE Act’s horse-slaughter and export issue.
Where the bills sit, and who sponsors them
These are informational contacts connected to the legislation, secondary to contacting your own representatives.
Rep. Vern Buchanan
Sponsor of H.R. 1661
2409 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5015
Sen. Lindsey Graham
Sponsor of S. 775
211 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5972
Sen. Ben Ray Luján
Sponsor of S. 775
498 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6621
House Agriculture Committee
Chair: Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson
H.R. 1661 has been referred to this committee.
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Chair: Sen. John Boozman · Ranking Member: Sen. Amy Klobuchar
S. 775 has been referred to this committee.
What does the BLM say?
BLM states that it does not sell or send wild horses or burros to slaughter. Purchasers must agree to humane-care terms and must certify that they will not knowingly, recklessly, or negligently transfer an animal to a person or organization intending to process it, or facilitate that processing. BLM strengthened this Bill of Sale language after concerns that buyers were exploiting the program.
BLM also states that once an animal is sold it becomes private property, and the agency does not track it after the sale. BLM’s jurisdiction over the animal effectively ends at that point, which is why post-sale outcomes are difficult for the agency to see or enforce.
BLM asks the public to report factual information about potentially inhumane treatment or about a federally protected horse or burro being sold to slaughter.
Where did this information come from?
- The New York Times, Dave Philipps, “Under Trump, Protected Wild Horses Are Going to Slaughter,” Aug. 20, 2026 (Paywalled; search the title on nytimes.com.)
- BLM Program Data
- BLM Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program / updated sales safeguards
- BLM Wild Horse and Burro contacts
- GovInfo: H.R. 1661, SAFE Act of 2025
- Senate bill text: S. 775
- House Transportation & Infrastructure: surface transportation reauthorization
Last verified: August 30, 2026
Primary sources: The New York Times investigation of August 20, 2026, BLM program data and sale-program policy, and the bill text for H.R. 1661 and S. 775. Full list in Where did this information come from? above.