Measure to Sell Off Public Lands Scrapped from GOP’s Big Beautiful Bill

Source: YouTube

Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) plan to sell off hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands is dead for now. The controversial proposal was pulled from the GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” on Saturday after facing bipartisan backlash, especially from Republicans representing Western states. Lee, a Utah Republican, led the effort to mandate the sale of up to 1.2 million acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The land targeted for sale was located within five miles of population centers across 11 states, including California.

The proposal to sell off public lands sparked outrage from both sides of the aisle plus a coalition of conservation groups, hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreation advocates. Many warned the plan could open the door to privatization of iconic landscapes that belong to all Americans.

Backlash from Both Sides

Lee originally argued that selling public lands would help ease the housing affordability crisis by making more land available for development. However, his measure quickly became a political liability. At least four Republican senators from Western states and five House Republicans threatened to vote against the bill if the land sale remained.

“The people of Idaho have been clear — we do NOT support the sale of our public lands to the highest bidder,” said Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), who joined the revolt against Lee’s plan. Public pressure also mounted as conservation groups mobilized against Lee’s plan. Critics argued the measure would have set a dangerous precedent, especially after the Trump administration’s recent moves to open public lands to more resource extraction and development. “This is a victory for everyone who hikes, hunts, explores and cherishes these places, but it’s not the end of the threats to our public lands,” said Athan Manuel of the Sierra Club.

A Familiar Battle Over Public Lands

Efforts to privatize or transfer federal lands have surfaced repeatedly over the years. During Trump’s first term, former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also faced backlash for policies viewed as favoring industry over conservation. Chris Wood, president of Trout Unlimited, called protecting public lands “the most nonpartisan issue in the country.” He warned that despite the current victory, attempts to sell or develop federal lands will likely return.

Senator Lee, for his part, signaled that he has not abandoned the fight. In a post on X, he said the federal government owns too much land and mismanages it, driving up housing costs and taxes in states like Utah. Lee pulled the measure after admitting he could not secure guarantees that the lands would be sold only to American families, not to foreign entities like China or large investment firms such as BlackRock.

Despite the Measure’s Pullout, Public Lands Remain at Risk

Although this land sale provision is presently off the table, the broader debate over federal land management continues. Conservation groups remain wary of future attempts to transfer or privatize public lands under the guise of economic development. The Trump administration has already rescinded protections on 58.5 million acres of national forestland, signaling a more aggressive push to unlock public lands for industry in the future.

Lawmakers from both parties agree that public lands are a defining feature of American life, supporting recreation, wildlife, clean water, and rural economies. But sharp disagreements remain over how those lands should be managed and whether they should stay in public hands at all.

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