A controversial proposal in the Republican budget bill could lead to the sale of over 2 million acres of public land across 11 U.S. states—a move that’s drawing fierce opposition from conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, local officials, and even members of the GOP.
Utah Sen. Mike Lee, a Republican and chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the land sale provision as part of the sweeping “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Lee argues the measure would generate new revenue, boost housing availability, and support domestic energy production. In a video released by his office, he emphasized that national parks, monuments, and wilderness areas wouldn’t be affected, and only “isolated parcels” would be considered for sale or development.
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“Washington has proven time and again it can’t manage this land. This bill puts it in better hands,” Lee said last Thursday.
Pushback from Both Sides
Even within his own party, Lee has faced resistance. A similar measure was removed from the House version of the bill after strong objections from Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke and other local leaders. Montana was ultimately excluded from the proposal entirely.
Zinke, who has served as U.S. Interior Secretary, called the land sale provision a “hard no,” voicing concerns over the long-term impact of removing public lands from federal protection.
What’s at Stake?
According to an analysis by The Wilderness Society, over 250 million acres currently managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management could potentially be impacted. Lee’s plan calls for the sale or transfer of between 0.5% and 0.75% of these holdings—translating to 2.1 million to 3.2 million acres.
The proposal affects land in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
However, critics argue the plan lacks transparency and fails to outline which parcels would be sold, raising concerns that prized public spaces could end up in the hands of developers.
Conservation Groups Sound the Alarm
Environmental organizations have condemned the proposal, calling it a dangerous precedent that would fast-track the privatization of protected lands.
“Shoving the sale of public lands back into the budget reconciliation bill, all to fund tax cuts for the wealthy, is a betrayal of future generations and folks on both sides of the aisle,” said Michael Carroll with The Wilderness Society.
Sen. Martin Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Energy Committee, questioned the proposal’s core justification.
“I don’t think it’s clear that we would even get substantial housing as a result of this,” he said. “What I know would happen is people would lose access to places they know and care about and that drive our Western economies.”
Even Conservative Environmentalists Say No
Benji Backer, author of The Conservative Environmentalist, accused Sen. Lee of pushing the land sales “secretly” and warned it’s a deeply unpopular idea.
“I’ve never seen so many conservatives AND liberals stand together as I’ve seen in opposition of this proposed mass sale of public lands,” Backer wrote on X. “Conservation of our nation’s beauty is a deeply patriotic and nonpartisan value.”
A YouGov poll conducted in April for the Trust for Public Land found that 71% of Americans oppose selling off public land. That opposition cuts across political lines—61% of 2024 Trump voters and 85% of Harris voters said they were against it.
