Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced on Wednesday that he will block any future nominees from President Donald Trump until the government reverses a wetlands policy he claims is detrimental to farmers. Cramer expressed his frustration over the Trump administration's decision not to reform a policy implemented by the Biden administration’s Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which aims to protect duck habitats by restricting agricultural drainage near federal conservation easements.
Cramer stated, "My farmers are furious and so am I. There won’t be another nominee confirmed until something changes." He criticized the Biden-era rule, suggesting it favors environmental activists at the expense of agricultural producers.
The FWS has acquired significant land for wetland conservation in the Prairie Pothole region, which is crucial for North America's duck population. Cramer has previously raised concerns about the enforcement of these easements, arguing they infringe on private property rights and exacerbate challenges for farmers facing rising costs.
The FWS recently confirmed it would not alter the wetlands policy, emphasizing its commitment to conservation while reviewing feedback from over 200,000 commenters. Cramer responded by questioning the timing of the FWS's announcement, linking it to his support for a nominee for Assistant Secretary of Interior who he believed would advocate for regulatory reform.
North Dakota is home to over 25,000 farms, ranking among the top 10 states in the U.S. for agriculture, according to the USDA’s 2025 Census of Agriculture.