Key facts
- The Trump administration is reportedly considering transferring a parcel of land within Yosemite National Park to Kingsbarn Realty Capital.
- The developer seeks to build a private road connecting its adjacent property to a central Yosemite route.
- The proposal involves exchanging the park land for equally valuable land elsewhere in California.
- Interior Department leadership reportedly supports the land transfer, causing tension within the National Park Service.
- Environmental advocates and California lawmakers have voiced strong opposition to the potential land deal.
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a land transfer within Yosemite National Park to a private developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital. The developer, which owns an adjacent 83-acre plot, seeks to construct a private road through the park to improve access to its property. Agency documents and sources familiar with the discussions suggest that National Park Service staff have been exploring how to facilitate this transfer, potentially in exchange for other land in California. Interior Department leadership is said to support the proposal, creating internal tension. However, an Interior Department spokesperson denied any political pressure for a predetermined outcome, calling reports of a secret land handover false. The potential deal has drawn sharp criticism from environmental advocates and lawmakers, who view it as an attempt to privatize public lands. California's senators and Representative Jared Huffman have expressed opposition, vowing to fight the proposal. The Interior Department has stated that no final decisions have been made and any proposal would undergo required environmental reviews and public notification processes.