Vet Voice Foundation Holds Virtual Town Hall with Veterans Impacted by DOGE Cuts to Public Lands and Launches Ad Campaign Targeting Congress

Press Releases | Conservation

The ad features Veteran small business owners calling on members of Congress to stand up to Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts to public lands protections and funding. 

Washington, D.C. – America’s public lands are more than just scenic landscapes—they are places of healing and reflection for Veterans, as well as vital economic lifelines for Veterans working in the outdoor recreation industry. Now, these lands are under threat. Vet Voice Foundation (VVF) is fighting back against the Trump administration’s latest attack on public lands, as efforts to roll back national monument protections put both Veterans’ well-being and livelihoods at risk. 

In response, VVF will host a virtual town hall today, Wednesday, March 19th at 3 PM ET at https://vvfnd.org/veterans-and-public-lands-virtual-town-hall/, featuring Veterans directly impacted by DOGE’s cuts and unveiling a new ad campaign urging Congress to use their authority to defend public lands.

Since President Teddy Roosevelt signed the Antiquities Act into law, presidents of both parties have used it to safeguard public lands. Now, the Trump administration threatens to reverse these protections, undermining over a century of bipartisan conservation policy.

VVF’s new ad campaign features two Veteran small business owners in the outdoor recreation industry, highlighting how these rollbacks endanger their businesses, livelihoods, and the natural spaces they rely on.

Script:  I was in the Navy for six years. I served with the 10th Special Forces. When I came back from Iraq, there wasn’t a lot of support for people coming here to see the nearby national parks and national forests.And so we established the Chester Hiker Hostels. Congress needs to understand that public lands support thousands of rural economies across the country. Small businesses like ours can only survive if public lands remain public. My message to Congress: don’t sell us out.

“This fight is deeply personal,” said Janessa Goldbeck, Executive Director of Vet Voice Foundation. “More than 5.2 million Americans work in outdoor recreation, including countless Veterans who have built their lives and businesses around public lands. Over 10% of the Department of the Interior’s workforce are Veterans, continuing their service by protecting these lands. Reversing these protections puts their futures at risk.”

The virtual town hall will feature:

  • Annika Peacock, Navy Veteran and co-owner, Chester Hiker Hostels
  • Michael Peacock, Army Veteran and co-owner, Chester Hiker Hostels
  • Gregg Bafundo, Marine Corps Veteran, former lead forest ranger in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, and wildland firefighter recently fired by Musk’s DOGE
  • J. Toscano, award-winning ad writer/director, providing behind-the-scenes insights
  • Sara Aminzadeh, Deputy Secretary for External Affairs, CA Natural Resources Agency
  • Janessa Goldbeck, Marine Corps Veteran and CEO, Vet Voice Foundation

Attendees will learn how to take action against these rollbacks and hold Congress accountable. VVF urges Veterans, conservationists, outdoor recreation business owners, and concerned citizens to join the town hall and add their voices to the fight for public lands.

EVENT DETAILS:
What: Vet Voice Foundation Virtual Town Hall & Ad Rollout
When: Wednesday, March 19th at 3 PM ET
Where: https://vvfnd.org/veterans-and-public-lands-virtual-town-hall/