US EditionPlan to Sell Public Land Knocked Out of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
- On Saturday, June 29, 2025, Senator Mike Lee of Utah withdrew his proposal to direct the sale of up to 1.2 million acres of public lands managed by the federal government from the Senate budget reconciliation legislation.
- The proposal faced strong bipartisan opposition, backlash from conservative hunters, outdoorsmen, and warnings from the Senate parliamentarian about budgetary rules, leading to its removal under the Byrd Rule.
- The provision sought to require the federal agency in charge of public lands to sell properties located near urban areas to encourage the development of affordable housing, but it sparked concerns about the potential loss of recreational spaces, lack of local community involvement, and negative impacts on conservation efforts.
- Lee stated on social media he withdrew the provision because he could not secure enforceable safeguards ensuring sales only to American families, not foreign interests like China or large corporations.
- The withdrawal marks a temporary halt to federal land sales efforts amid continued debate, while Lee intends to advocate for future land management reforms respecting public use and local values.
31 Articles
31 Articles
ABC FOX Montana
Public land sales stripped from ‘Big, Beautiful’ bill
Montana’s Republican senators over the weekend praised the removal of a provision to sell public lands from a federal budget reconciliation bill. In a joint statement, U.S. Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy called the move “a victory for our…
Conservation groups celebrate defeat of proposed public land selloff
Conservation groups were quick to celebrate a Utah senator’s decision to drop a controversial public land selloff from the Senate budget reconciliation bill – the so-called “big, beautiful bill.” Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, on Saturday, June 28, said he was withdrawing his bid to include language that would have directed the Bureau of Land Management to sell off up to 1.2 million acres of federal land for housing, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reporte…
A public lands sell-off is struck from the GOP policy bill
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said late Saturday that he had dropped his contentious plan to sell millions of acres of public lands from the sweeping domestic policy package that the Senate will soon begin debating.
Public land sales, including in Colorado, struck from Big Beautiful Bill following backlash
One of the controversial proposals within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act moving through the federal government was the idea to sell public lands throughout the American West. The provision has since been entirely removed from the Senate budget reconciliation bill.But, how did we get here?"A lot of really quick turnarounds and timelines to keep up with the ever-changing proposals and legislation that's trying to get passed along with this budget …
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