In May 2025, the Safari Club—a recreational hunting and fishing lobbying group—filed a Petition for Rulemaking asking the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to change the regulations governing the Federal Subsistence Management Program, Office of Subsistence Management, and Federal Subsistence Board (FSB).

The petition requests that the agencies:

--Reduce the FSB membership to only federal agency heads (who are political appointees), removing all public seats, including the three recently added Tribally‑nominated seats.

--Direct the FSB to defer to the State of Alaska when setting regulations.

AFN opposes these actions. They will weaken subsistence protections.

Because the State of Alaska cannot legally implement a rural subsistence priority, requiring the FSB to defer to the state would effectively eliminate that priority.

This first review period is called the “scoping” period, during which the agencies seek input on all aspects they should consider when drafting a new rule—essentially defining the “scope” of their review. At this stage, comments should explain how the Federal Subsistence Board affects your region and why it is important that rural residents have a role on the Board. A later opportunity will be provided to comment on any proposed rule, likely in spring 2026.

Comments are due THIS FRIDAY, February 13, 2026, and can be submitted by email to subsistence@ios.doi.gov, or through www.regulations.gov, docket number DOI-2025-0170.

If you need further information or would like a template letter please contact Navigator, Leah Hansen, at lhansen@nativefederation.org