Yosemite privatization plan triggers bipartisan backlash

The Trump administration is weighing a land swap that would let the developer Kingsbarn Realty Capital use a portion of Yosemite National Park land to build a road into an 83-acre parcel for a proposed village, a move critics say would privatize public land and erode park integrity. The plan, which would shorten access to the site but still leave a substantial drive to Yosemite Valley, is described by Kingsbarn as benefiting the environment, while officials insist no final decision has been made and any exchange would require federal laws, environmental reviews, and public notification. Opponents including Democratic lawmakers, conservation groups, and Yosemite workers’ unions condemned the idea as a dangerous precedent, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, climber Alex Honnold, NPCA, and Rep. Jared Huffman among those voicing opposition; Kingsbarn contends the project would bring environmental net positives and infrastructure benefits. The episode fits a broader pattern of privatization efforts the administration has pursued in other parks.