LUBBOCK, Texas — This article was originally published by our content partners at the Texas Tribune. Read the original article here.

Plans to expand the oldest wildlife refuge in Texas have been scrapped in favor of President Donald Trump’s effort to “ unleash American energy .”

The reversal, which was announced last month, has conservationists and advocates concerned about the future of wildlife in the Texas High Plains.

The Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge, established by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935, planned to expand up to 700,000 acres — a significant increase from the 6,440 acres that are part of the refuge now. The expansion was part of former President Joe Biden’s “America the Beautiful” initiative.

At the refuge, located in the small town of Muleshoe about 68 miles no

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