EXECUTIVE ORDER 2029-11

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including Article II of the Constitution, the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Animal Damage Control Act (7 U.S.C. 8351 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and all other applicable authorities, it is hereby ordered: SECTION 1. PURPOSE AND POLICY. The United States possesses a solemn obligation to serve as steward and guardian of the Nation's wildlife, ecosystems, public lands, and domestic animals. The preservation of ecological balance and the humane treatment of sentient life are fundamental responsibilities of civilized government. Sodium cyanide ejector devices, including M-44 cyanide traps, inflict indiscriminate and inhumane suffering upon wildlife and domestic animals, endanger public safety, and undermine responsible conservation practices. Such devices have resulted in injury and death to non-target wildlife, companion animals, and members of the public. Modern science and land management practices demonstrate that effective non-lethal predator deterrence methods exist and shall be prioritized wherever practicable. Cruelty shall not be accepted as a substitute for responsible stewardship. Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States to: 1. Prohibit the use of sodium cyanide ejector devices on federal lands and within federally authorized wildlife management activities, including all activities conducted pursuant to federal cooperative agreements, permits, grants, or contracts regardless of land ownership or jurisdiction; 2. Prioritize humane, non-lethal predator deterrence methods; 3. Ensure accountability for violations of humane wildlife management standards; 4. Protect public lands and ecosystems from indiscriminate poisoning practices. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this order: (a) "Cyanide ejector device" means any spring-activated or mechanically activated device designed to discharge sodium cyanide or similar toxic compounds into an animal, including M-44 devices. (b) "Federal lands" means lands owned, leased, administered, or managed by the United States Government. For purposes of this order, the prohibitions herein shall also apply to any activity conducted pursuant to a federal cooperative agreement, federal permit, federal grant, or federal contract, regardless of whether such activity occurs on federal, state, tribal, or private land. (c) "Non-lethal deterrence methods" include scientifically supported wildlife conflict mitigation measures such as fencing, fladry systems, range riders, guardian animals, sound or light deterrents, relocation measures, husbandry practices, and similar humane alternatives. SEC. 3. IMMEDIATE PROHIBITION ON CYANIDE DEVICES. (a) Effective immediately, no executive department, agency, bureau, contractor, grantee, or federally funded entity shall authorize, deploy, transport, possess for field use, purchase, fund, or support the use of any cyanide ejector device on federal lands, within any federally administered wildlife management activity, or pursuant to any federal cooperative agreement, permit, grant, or contract, regardless of land ownership or jurisdiction. (b) No Federal funds shall be used directly or indirectly for the deployment, transport, or support of such devices. (c) All existing permits, agreements, authorizations, cooperative agreements, grants, contracts, or memoranda of understanding that authorize, fund, or support the use of any cyanide ejector device are hereby revoked. Affected parties may seek administrative review through the relevant agency's standard review procedures, but revocation shall take effect immediately and shall not be stayed pending such review absent a court order. SEC. 4. NON-LETHAL PREDATOR MANAGEMENT STANDARDS. (a) Within 120 days of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall jointly issue uniform federal standards prioritizing non-lethal predator management practices. (b) Lethal predator control measures may only be considered where: 1. Documented non-lethal measures have been reasonably attempted and exhausted; 2. An immediate and substantiated threat to human safety exists; and 3. The action complies with all applicable environmental and wildlife protection laws. (c) All agencies shall provide annual public reporting regarding wildlife conflict mitigation activities conducted under their authority. SEC. 5. ACCOUNTABILITY, REVIEW, AND REMOVAL AUTHORITY. (a) Any federal employee, officer, contractor, or affiliated entity found to have knowingly authorized, concealed, facilitated, or deployed prohibited cyanide devices in violation of federal humane wildlife standards shall be subject to: 1. Immediate suspension pending investigation; 2. Administrative disciplinary proceedings, including termination where appropriate; 3. Permanent disqualification from future federal wildlife management authority or contracts; 4. Referral for civil or criminal enforcement where applicable. (b) The heads of all relevant agencies shall conduct a retroactive review of cyanide device authorizations, deployments, injuries, fatalities, concealment actions, and policy reversals occurring on or after January 20, 2025. (c) No officer, employee, or contractor may rely upon prior departmental custom, administrative memoranda, or political instruction as immunity from review or disciplinary action under this order. (d) Departments or offices demonstrating systemic disregard for humane wildlife protection standards may be subject to leadership removal, restructuring, funding suspension, or dissolution consistent with applicable law. SEC. 6. REMOVAL AND RESTORATION REQUIREMENTS. Within 180 days of this order: 1. All prohibited cyanide ejector devices shall be removed from federal lands and destroyed in accordance with environmental safety standards; 2. Agencies shall publish a full accounting of prior deployments and known incidents involving injury or death to non-target animals or humans; 3. Agencies shall submit humane wildlife management transition plans to the President through the Council on Environmental Quality. SEC. 7. GENERAL PROVISIONS. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: 1. The authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, provided that no such authority shall be construed to permit any action expressly prohibited by Sections 3, 4, 5, or 6 of this order. No prior statutory delegation of wildlife management authority, departmental custom, administrative practice, cooperative agreement, or political instruction shall be construed to authorize activities prohibited herein. 2. The functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States. (d) This order shall take effect immediately.

A BILL To prohibit the use of sodium cyanide ejector devices on federal lands and in federally supported wildlife management activities, to promote humane non-lethal predator deterrence practices, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Starseer Kaley Cyanide Trap Ban Act". SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that: 1. Sodium cyanide ejector devices, including M-44 devices, inflict severe and unnecessary suffering upon wildlife and domestic animals; 2. Such devices are inherently indiscriminate and pose risks to pets, protected wildlife species, livestock, and human beings; 3. Public lands should be managed according to principles of humane stewardship, ecological responsibility, and public safety; 4. Effective non-lethal predator deterrence methods are available and should be prioritized in wildlife conflict management; 5. The Federal Government has a compelling interest in preventing cruel and unnecessary wildlife poisoning practices on federal lands and through all federally supported or authorized activities regardless of land ownership or jurisdiction. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (a) The term "cyanide ejector device" means any device intended to discharge sodium cyanide or similar toxic compounds into an animal through mechanical or spring activation, including M-44 devices. (b) The term "Federal lands" means lands owned, managed, administered, or controlled by the United States Government. For purposes of this Act, the prohibitions herein shall also apply to any activity conducted pursuant to a federal cooperative agreement, federal permit, federal grant, or federal contract, regardless of whether such activity occurs on federal, state, tribal, or private land. (c) The term "non-lethal deterrence" means humane wildlife conflict mitigation practices including fencing, fladry systems, guardian animals, range riders, relocation efforts, and related science-based methods. SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON CYANIDE DEVICES. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, entity, contractor, or Federal agency to: 1. Manufacture for Federal use; 2. Deploy; 3. Transport for the purpose of field deployment; 4. Possess for field deployment; 5. Sell to a Federal agency; 6. Authorize; 7. Fund; 8. Utilize; or 9. Deploy or authorize the deployment of any cyanide ejector device pursuant to any federal cooperative agreement, permit, grant, or contract, regardless of the land ownership or jurisdiction in which such deployment occurs; any cyanide ejector device on Federal lands or in federally funded wildlife management activities. (b) No Federal permit, contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or memorandum may authorize activities prohibited under this section. SEC. 5. NON-LETHAL WILDLIFE PROTECTION PROGRAM. (a) The Secretary of the Interior shall establish a Humane Wildlife Conflict Prevention Grant Program to assist: 1. Ranchers; 2. Tribal governments; 3. Conservation organizations; 4. States; and 5. Local governments in implementing non-lethal predator deterrence strategies. (b) Priority shall be given to programs demonstrating measurable reductions in lethal predator control. SEC. 6. ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES. (a) Any person or entity violating this Act shall be subject to: 1. Civil penalties as follows: (A) For natural persons: not less than $25,000 and not more than $250,000 per violation; (B) For corporations, partnerships, associations, or other legal entities: not less than $100,000 and not more than $1,000,000 per violation; (C) For continuing violations, penalties shall accrue on a per-day basis at the applicable rate above from the date the violation is discovered or should reasonably have been discovered; 2. Suspension or debarment from Federal contracts or grants; 3. Seizure and destruction of prohibited devices; and 4. Criminal penalties for knowing or reckless violations, including: (A) Imprisonment of not more than 5 years per violation where such violation results in injury to or death of a non-target animal, domestic animal, or human being; (B) Imprisonment of not more than 2 years per violation for all other knowing or reckless violations not resulting in injury or death; (C) Criminal fines not to exceed $500,000 per violation for natural persons; and (D) Criminal fines not to exceed $2,000,000 per violation for corporations, partnerships, associations, or other legal entities. (b) Federal employees who knowingly violate this Act may be subject to administrative disciplinary action, including removal consistent with applicable law. SEC. 6A. ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. (a) The Inspector General of the Department of the Interior and the Inspector General of the Department of Agriculture shall each have jurisdiction to investigate violations of this Act occurring within their respective agency's programs, contracts, and cooperative agreements. (b) Civil penalties under this Act shall be assessed and collected by the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, as applicable to the violating activity, acting through their respective enforcement offices. Final civil penalty determinations shall be subject to review in the United States district court for the district in which the violation occurred. (c) Criminal violations of this Act shall be referred to the Attorney General for prosecution. The United States district court for the district in which the violation occurred shall have jurisdiction over criminal proceedings brought under this Act. (d) The Environmental Protection Agency shall have concurrent authority to investigate and refer for enforcement any violation of this Act involving environmental contamination resulting from the deployment or improper disposal of prohibited devices. (e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the investigative or prosecutorial authority of the Department of Justice with respect to violations of this Act. SEC. 7. WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTIONS. Federal employees and contractors who disclose violations of this Act shall receive all protections available under: 1. The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989; and 2. Other applicable Federal whistleblower laws. SEC. 8. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture may promulgate regulations necessary to carry out this Act. SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.