Cramer Blocks Trump Nominees Over Wetlands Rule

North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer has placed a blanket hold on all future President Donald Trump nominees in the Senate, protesting the administration's decision to retain a Biden-era wetlands conservation rule he argues harms farmers. The Republican senator announced the procedural move on August 20, 2026, following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's statement that it would not change the 2024 regulation at this time.

The dispute centers on a rule finalized in May 2024 that establishes setback requirements for drain tile, underground pipes used to remove excess water from farmland, near federally protected wetland easements. These easements, purchased by the Fish and Wildlife Service over decades, are located primarily in the Prairie Pothole Region, a critical habitat for waterfowl spanning parts of North Dakota and other Midwestern states. Cramer and other critics contend the rule extends federal control beyond the boundaries of the purchased easements, effectively restricting the use of adjacent private land without compensation.

The Fish and Wildlife Service announced on August 14 that it would take no further action on the rule while reviewing public comments from more...