Full Breakdown
Trump Administration Proposes Yosemite Land Swap with Private Developer
8/29/2026, 3:42:56 AM
Proposed Land Exchange in Yosemite
Federal officials and documents reviewed by the *New York Times* indicate that the Interior Department is considering a land-exchange that would transfer a small parcel just inside Yosemite’s western boundary to Kingsbarn Realty Capital, a Nevada-based real-estate private-equity firm. In return, Kingsbarn would purchase an equivalent-valued parcel elsewhere in California and convey it to the National Park Service (NPS). The deal would give the developer a direct road access to two undeveloped 40-acre parcels it already owns along the park’s edge.
Background and Prior Attempts
The parcels were acquired in 2024 by a limited-liability company, Sanctuary at Yosemite, for $4 million. A similar proposal was floated in the early 2000s by previous owners, but the NPS rejected it and the matter was later dismissed in court. The current plan, first reported by NOTUS in late August 2026, revives the concept of a shortcut road that would shorten visitor travel from the nearest highway by roughly an hour and a half.
Official Statements & Responses
A spokesperson for the Interior Department, Aubrie Spady, said any land exchange would be subject to all applicable federal laws, regulations, and departmental policies, including required environmental review and public-notification processes. The department also noted that the Land and Water Conservation Fund could be used to finance the exchange, a point that has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers who argue the fund should support conservation rather than development.
Opposition from Conservationists and Lawmakers
California Congressman Jeff Huffman condemned the plan, asserting that “these places should be protected for every generation, not sold off to Trump’s ultra-wealthy friends to profit off of.” Both critics argue the swap threatens the integrity of the park’s wilderness.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is so ridiculous, it makes you sick,” — Don Neubacher, a former supervisor at Yosemite
- “These places should be protected for every generation, not sold off to Trump’s ultra-wealthy friends to profit off of,” — California Congressman Jeff Huffman
