The Trump administration's plan to allow oil drilling near a heritage site in New Mexico has triggered widespread global alarm. Critics worry that even sacred and valuable locations face drilling threats under current policy.
The Trump administration announced plans on August 20–21, 2026 to scrap a drilling-free buffer zone around a UNESCO world heritage site in New Mexico, prompting alarm from the United Nations and environmental advocates. The policy reversal threatens irreversible damage to the nation's public lands and protected sites.