In April 2014, the tense standoff between armed protesters supporting cattle rancher Cliven Bundy and federal agents in Bunkerville, Nevada, marked a significant event in the ongoing battle over public lands usage. The protesters succeeded in forcing the Bureau of Land Management to back down, leading to the release of impounded Bundy cattle. Since then, the situation has remained relatively peaceful, with minimal contact between the Bundy family and the BLM.
Cliven Bundy, along with his large family, continues to ranch on their land, despite owing over $1 million in unpaid grazing fees and penalties to the BLM. The family patriarch reflected on the legal challenges and personal toll of the standoff, as well as the ongoing support from militia members and other followers who came to their aid during the confrontation. The Bundy family retains a defiant stance against federal regulations on the land they believe their ancestors rightfully settled.
The 2014 standoff had lasting repercussions, with Cliven’s sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, leading another standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016. The events in Bunkerville and Malheur were seen as precursors to the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, highlighting the rise of militia movements seeking to challenge federal authority. Despite federal prosecutors portraying the Bunkerville confrontation as an insurrection, none of the Bundy family members were ultimately convicted of any crimes.
Today, over 700 Bundy cattle graze on the family’s land in the Virgin River valley and Gold Butte, a national monument designated by then-President Barack Obama. Conservation groups are suing to remove the cattle and protect the desert tortoise, citing irreparable ecological damage caused by grazing. The failure of federal regulators to fully enforce laws against grazing has further fueled criticisms of the Bundy family’s continued use of public lands.
The Bundys argue that the federal government lacks the authority to regulate land that has been in their family for 150 years, emphasizing the unresolved questions of local sovereignty. The youngest son, Arden Bundy, has gained a social media following with videos of the family ranching activities, showcasing their dedication to land and traditions. In the event of another attempted roundup of Bundy cattle, the family remains prepared to mobilize their supporters, signaling a continued defiance against federal regulations and a commitment to their way of life on the land.
