Outrage Is Aroused by a Texas Lawmaker’s Bill to Dismantle the Parks and Wildlife Department

Posted by Timothy 2 Min Read March 18, 2025
Outrage Is Aroused by a Texas Lawmaker's Bill to Dismantle the Parks and Wildlife Department

A Texas lawmaker is pushing to abolish the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which has sparked a debate.

Some Texans have been shocked to see how many federal workers have lost their jobs in recent weeks. Furthermore, the focus on which government departments to eliminate has resulted in increased overwhelm and even surprise for those who may support what some regard as an unusually high level of elimination targets.

If you want to read some of the feedback on this proposed bill, the Reddit comment section is a good place to begin.

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According to Chron.com, Texas State Representative Pat Curry (R-Waco) introduced House Bill 4938, which seeks to dismantle the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

According to GearJunkie, Rep. Curry is a member of President Trump’s Texas delegation and Elon Musk’s DOGE.

What organizations would then be charged with handling the TPWD’s responsibilities should it be abolished?

If the bill passes, the Texas General Land Office, the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Agriculture will take over the TPWD’s responsibilities.

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According to Click2Houston, the breakdown would be as follows:

If the bill passes, the Texas General Land Office will regulate parks, wildlife management zones, natural areas, historic sites, public lands, and fish hatcheries.

The Department of Agriculture would be in charge of any wildlife conservation, native plant management, and hunting and fishing regulations.

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Finally, the Department of Public Safety would be in charge of law enforcement duties such as water safety enforcement, which were previously handled by game wardens.

What happens to the Texas Parks and Wildlife employees if the bill to abolish the department comes to pass?

Employees of TPWD, though we’re not sure if that includes everyone, would be sent to these other agencies, as would any contracts, properties, records, and funds.

If the bill passes, the changes will go into effect on September 1, 2025.

Representative Curry has not yet explained what inspired this proposal. At least not in public.

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