Senate Proposal to Sell 2.5 Million Acres of Public Land Threatens Wildlife, Access, and Rural Communities

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s proposal (authored by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah) to mandate the sale of up to 2.5 million acres of National Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands poses a serious threat to wildlife habitat, public access for hunters and anglers, outdoor recreation, and the well-being of rural communities across the West.

This sweeping land sale mandate would override nearly 50 years of bipartisan public land management policy that requires community consultation and environmental review before any federal land is transferred or sold. Instead, this plan would force a fire sale of some of the most cherished and ecologically important landscapes in the country—placing them in the hands of the highest bidder.

Rather than solving the affordable housing crisis, this proposal sidesteps the root causes and creates long-term consequences for clean water, wildlife corridors, and public land access. It disregards the voices of local communities, Tribal nations, and the overwhelming majority of Americans who oppose large-scale public land disposals.

The Senate should reject this reckless proposal and instead work collaboratively with communities, housing advocates, and conservation partners to find real solutions to housing affordability—without sacrificing our shared natural heritage.