The Trump administration is reportedly considering a land exchange that would transfer a quarter-mile strip of Yosemite National Park to a Nevada-based developer, Kingsbarn Realty Capital, in a move drawing fierce criticism from environmental groups and lawmakers.
The proposed deal, first reported by NOTUS, involves the National Park Service (NPS) potentially ceding land within Yosemite to Kingsbarn in exchange for a parcel of equal value outside the park. The developer, which purchased an 83-acre plot adjacent to Yosemite in 2024 for $4 million, seeks to construct a road connecting its property to the park’s main thoroughfares, providing exceptionally rare private access to iconic landmarks like the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias.
The plan, which has been under discussion since at least the spring of 2025, centers on a roughly quarter-mile strip of land inside Yosemite. According to NOTUS, the Interior Department’s top political leadership has backed the proposal, with sources describing the pressure on the NPS as “unusual.” The agency would reportedly exchange the park land for property elsewhere in California, though no specific alternative has been named. The deal, if finalized, would mark a significant shift in federal land management, as the NPS has historically prioritized expanding park boundaries rather than reducing them.
Kingsbarn CEO Jeff Pori aims to shorten the drive from his property to Yosemite’s main attractions, which currently requires a circuitous route. The proposed road would grant the land unique access to the famed public wilderness, according to The Guardian. However, the NPS has historically prioritized expanding park boundaries, not reducing them, with former superintendent Cicely Muldoon noting that the national park idea started in Yosemite with Abraham Lincoln’s preservation of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias.
Trump administration considering deal to give up part of
Reactions and Opposition
The proposal has sparked outrage among conservationists, who argue it undermines the purpose of national parks. The National Parks Conservation Association called it an unlawful attack on America’s conservation legacy, while Mark Rose stated, The Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle America’s conservation legacy are now taking aim at Yosemite with this secretive, backroom deal.
Outside Online reported that the Interior Department denied the allegations, asserting, No final decisions have been made
and that any exchange would follow all applicable federal laws.
California’s Democratic lawmakers have also condemned the move. Senator Adam Schiff called the plan one where the administration appears hellbent on moving forward in the face of opposition,
while Congressman Jared Huffman vowed to fight it, saying, These places should be protected for every generation, not sold off to Trump’s ultra-wealthy friends to profit off of.
The San Francisco Chronicle noted that the proposal has faced repeated rejections under previous administrations, including from the Obama and Bush eras.
Interior Department spokesperson Aubrie Spady emphasized that any land exchange would be subject to all applicable federal laws, regulations and Departmental policies, including required environmental review and public notification processes,
but critics argue the process has been rushed. The previous owner of Kingsbarn’s property, Lewis Geyser, had attempted a similar road proposal in the past, which was rejected by the administrations of both Republican George W Bush and Democrat Barack Obama. KQED reported that the current owners have revived the effort with more interest from the Trump administration.
Trump Is Quietly Working to Give Part of Yosemite
Broader Implications and Uncertainties
The controversy highlights tensions over federal land management and the balance between private development and public conservation. Former NPS officials described the political pressure as “very unusual,” with one source telling NOTUS that the political pressure being brought to bear is “very unusual.” The move also raises questions about the long-term fate of Yosemite’s protections, which were originally designed to preserve the park unimpaired for future generations.
As of August 29, 2026, the administration has not finalized any agreement. However, the ongoing discussions have already drawn comparisons to past efforts to sell off public lands, with critics warning of a dangerous precedent. The outcome remains uncertain, but the debate underscores the growing conflict between conservation goals and business interests in federal land policy.
The Proposed Land Exchange
Trump gov't mulls deal to give away part of
The plan, which has been under discussion since at least 2025, centers on a roughly quarter-mile strip of land inside Yosemite. According to NOTUS, the Interior Department’s top political leadership has backed the proposal, with sources describing the pressure on the NPS as “unusual.” The agency would reportedly exchange the park land for property elsewhere in California, though no specific alternative has been named. The developer, which operates through a web of limited-liability companies, has sought to gain direct access to the park to connect its 83-acre plot with Highway 120, the park’s main thoroughfare.
The firm wants to obtain a portion of land from the National Park Service to develop a new road connecting the property, according to NOTUS and the New York Times. The previous owner of the land, Lewis Geyser, had lobbied the federal government for decades to allow a private road in the park, but his proposals were repeatedly denied. The current owners, including Kingsbarn Realty Capital, have revived the effort with renewed backing from the Trump administration.
Interior Department officials have denied the allegations, calling suggestions that the department is secretly working to hand over land false. A statement from the department said No final decisions have been made
and that any exchange would follow all applicable federal laws. However, the NPS has been working to fulfill an unprecedented directive from Trump officials: parceling off a corner of Yosemite to give to the private developer. Staff in California and Washington, D.C., have been exploring how the agency can give the quarter-mile parcel to the company, according to agency documents and four people directly familiar with the discussions.
The controversy has reignited debates over the role of federal land in conservation. Environmental groups argue that the move sets a dangerous precedent, while supporters claim it could boost local economies. However, the NPS has consistently maintained that its mission is to preserve natural and cultural resources for future generations, not to facilitate private development. The agency’s stance has been reinforced by past rejections of similar proposals, including those from the Obama and Bush administrations.
As the debate continues, the fate of the proposed land exchange remains uncertain. The Trump administration has not yet finalized any agreement, but the ongoing discussions have already drawn comparisons to past efforts to sell off public lands. With the NPS under pressure to comply with political directives, the outcome could have lasting implications for the management of federal lands across the country.