Federal Officials Consider Yosemite Land Swap to Grant Road Access for Developer
Washington, Sunday, 30 August 2026.
The Trump administration is evaluating a land exchange to grant a private developer road access within Yosemite National Park, reviving a access request previously rejected by federal courts.
Proposal Details and Key Entities
The Trump administration and the Interior Department confirmed they are actively considering a land exchange involving Yosemite National Park with Nevada-based Kingsbarn Realty Capital [1]. The potential deal would grant the developer access road rights, specifically a road under a mile in length, to connect their property to the park’s entrance [1]. Kingsbarn Realty Capital owns the 83-acre Hazel Green Ranch near Yosemite’s western boundary, purchased in 2024 for $4 million [2][4]. The proposed arrangement involves the developer purchasing equivalent-value land elsewhere in California to trade with the National Park Service [1]. As of 2026-08-28, the administration is evaluating this exchange, a practice described as unusual for National Park Service land [1][2]. The Interior Department states no final decision has been made, and any proposal would require environmental review and public notification processes [1][5].
Political Connections and Timeline
Kingsbarn CEO Jeff Pori began making regular, small-dollar donations to Donald Trump’s campaign committee between 2024 and 2025, having no recorded history of national political donations prior to October 2024 [1][2]. Since spring 2025, the Trump administration and National Park Service have been negotiating to transfer a roughly 0.4 km strip of land or an easement inside Yosemite National Park to the developer [2]. Political appointees in Secretary Doug Burgum’s office are reportedly directing National Park Service staff to facilitate the exchange, creating internal tension [2]. In April 2025, Kingsbarn Realty Capital acquired the Los Angeles headquarters of Kim Kardashian’s company, Skims, in a deal involving firms linked to the Trump administration [2]. Senator Alex Padilla stated projects should be chosen on merit, not on an applicant’s connections to high-ranking Trump Administration officials [3].
Legal Precedent and Environmental Impact
A federal appeals court in 2012 previously affirmed the dismissal of claims by the property’s former owner seeking easement rights for road development near Yosemite [1]. The proposed land exchange breaks 150 years of National Park Service precedent regarding the preservation of park boundaries [2]. If approved, the road could reduce the drive to Yosemite Valley from over 90 minutes to 45 minutes, representing a 50 percent reduction in travel time [4]. Critics warn this deal could set a negative precedent for all National Park Service lands and increase wildfire risks [4]. The National Parks Conservation Association characterized the deal as a secretive, unlawful attempt to privatize public land [2]. Senator Adam Schiff noted the courts struck this project down once, but the administration appears hellbent on moving forward [2].
Administration Response and Next Steps
On 2026-08-24, President Trump issued a message for National Park Week stating, My Administration is committed to protecting every acre of our lands, contradicting current Interior Department efforts to privatize the Yosemite strip for development [2]. The Department of the Interior has formally denied allegations that the proposal is nonexistent and that no political pressure has been applied to secure a predetermined outcome [5]. However, documents obtained by The Hill indicate the National Park Service states a landowner is seeking to connect their property with a park service road [3]. Senate office efforts are underway, in coordination with the Senate Appropriations Committee, to block the project from advancing [3]. As of 2026-08-27, the Interior Department states no final decisions have been made regarding the land exchange [3].