Trump Wants National Park ‘Land Exchange’ with Private Developer in Unprecedented Move: Report

President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

President Donald Trump and his administration are reportedly pushing hard for an unprecedented “land exchange” that would see private developers taking control of part of the Yosemite National Park.

NOTUS’ Anna Kramer dropped a report on Friday detailing the efforts behind the unusual potential land exchange and the tensions it is creating.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and his department are reportedly fully behind the plan, despite Burgum vowing during his confirmation hearing last year “we need to support and protect every single inch of” of national parks. His office has been pushing the National Park Service to work faster on the deal.

One former NPS official called the deal an “unusual case” and described the secretive nature around it as unprecedented.

“They want us to be responsive to the property owner and their lobbyists or people, and they want us to work with these folks,” one person familiar with the situation told NOTUS, which also reviewed agency documents.

“The political pressure being brought to bear is very unusual,” another person familiar with the ongoing talks said.

The plan has reportedly been in the works for more than a year. It would potentially include ceding a quarter mile strip of Yosemite to a company operated by Kingsbarn Realty Capital. They reportedly purchased 83 acres near the national park in 2024 and the land exchange would allow them to build a road directly from the purchased-property to Yosemite’s famous ancient sequoia groves.

National Park Services staff in California and Washington, D.C. are working on the deal, which would potentially include the federal government receiving California land of equal value as part of the deal.

A National Park Services spokesperson said in a statement that “no final decisions” have been made and any decisions that are made will be subject to all applicable laws.

“If a proposal advances, the Department would follow established procedures to ensure appropriate coordination, transparency, and public involvement, consistent with federal law,” the spox said.

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