- Proposed Senate bill could privatize millions of acres of public land.
- State and federal leaders warn of damage to water, wildlife, and cultural heritage.
- Critics say land sales bypass public input and undermine environmental safeguards.
- Conservation groups call the plan a giveaway to billionaires and developers.
- Outdoor access, climate resilience, and cultural heritage are at the heart of the debate.
Friday, June 20, 2025 — A sweeping Senate proposal has ignited national outcry by calling for the sale of up to 3 million acres of U.S. public land. With expanded criteria, over 250 million acres of public land will become eligible for sale. Among other things, acreage under grazing permits
is eligible for sale. The budget reconciliation bill, advanced by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, includes provisions to dispose of Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands across 11 western states. Lands affected include areas critical for wildlife migration, public recreation, water protection, and the preservation of Indigenous cultural heritage.
Governors and Senators Push Back.
California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized the proposal on June 18, calling it “one of the worst” ideas ever leveled against national parks and public lands. He warned the plan could reduce staffing, diminish access, and escalate wildfire risks. “As the Trump administration threatens our public lands, California continues to expand access to achieve our vision of outdoors for all,” Newsom said in a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly also expressed strong opposition. “Selling [public lands] off to fund Trump’s tax giveaways to billionaires is reckless and wrong,” Kelly said in a statement released June 17. He emphasized the value of public lands for recreation, economic benefit, and ecological preservation.
Nevada’s Congresswoman Susie Lee questioned Interior Secretary Doug Burgum on June 18 regarding the budget cuts that would affect land management. Burgum acknowledged the strain, stating that land sales should be “determined by the local partners.”
Conservation Groups Condemn the Proposal.
The Wilderness Society called the Senate bill “a disturbing giveaway,” warning that lands currently used for recreation and habitat protection could be sold to any interested buyer. In a post dated June 16, the organization shared a detailed map showing more than 250 million acres as vulnerable, including wildlands in Alaska, Arizona, and California. The map can be viewed here.
Outdoor Alliance followed suit with its own analysis, showing the bill could impact nearly 300 million acres of Forest Service and BLM lands—encompassing 100,000 miles of trails and thousands of climbing and paddling routes. The group emphasized that the bill lacks affordability requirements and could impact prized outdoor areas, such as Mount Hood’s trail network and Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains.
Impacts to Wildlife and Watersheds.
The Western Watersheds Project described the plan as a “sneak attack” that could open over 120 million acres to speculative development. Following a June 18 update, even lands under active grazing permits were no longer exempt. Deputy Director Greta Anderson said, “These lands aren’t vacant—they’re alive. They’re home to pronghorn, sage grouse, mountain lions, native trout and ancient cultural sites.”
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance jointly issued a letter on June 18 opposing the land sale, signed by over 100 organizations. “There is no requirement that any housing built in response to this bill be affordable,” said Randi Spivak of the Center. “Once [lands are] sold, they’re gone for good—fences go up, access disappears and they are lost to the public forever.”
Hunting and Wildlife Advocates Join the Chorus.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation voiced concern that the sale could erode access to public hunting and fishing grounds. In a June 6 letter co-signed with 43 other groups, RMEF argued that any land sales must involve public input and ensure conservation reinvestment.
Likewise, the National Wildlife Refuge Association warned that the bill, while technically excluding refuges and parks, set a precedent that could lead to wider losses in the future. “Public lands are not currency,” said President Desirée Sorenson-Groves on June 17. “We can’t trade away our natural legacy.”
Public Opinion and Political Fallout.
Polls over the years have consistently shown strong bipartisan support for maintaining public lands in public hands. Yet critics say this bill, pushed by Senator Mike Lee of Utah, is being rushed through the budget reconciliation process, avoiding the usual scrutiny and public comment.
The Center for Western Priorities stated on June 17 that the revised bill “more than doubles the amount of national public land on the chopping block.” The League of Conservation Voters labeled the legislation “a wish list for Big Polluters,” warning that privatized lands could be developed for luxury homes or fossil fuel extraction.
Bobby McEnaney of the Natural Resources Defense Council called the measure “a fire sale of America’s public lands,” predicting it would “rob future generations of public access to lands and waters that belong to all of us.”
Vote Expected Before July 4.
With a Senate vote expected before the July 4 recess, the future of millions of acres of public land is in jeopardy. The outcome could reshape access, stewardship, and conservation for decades to come. Conservation advocates and local leaders are urging the public to contact their senators to oppose the bill and preserve the nation’s public lands legacy.
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