US EditionUtah Republican Proposes Sale of More than 2 Million Acres of US Lands
- On June 14, 2025, Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, unveiled a budget plan requiring the government to sell or transfer millions of acres of public lands in 11 Western states, with Montana being the only state excluded.
- The proposal seeks to require the sale of a portion of public lands overseen by the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to promote housing and local infrastructure development, renewing a Republican initiative after similar measures did not pass in the House.
- The amendment directs land sales to involve isolated, difficult-to-manage parcels suitable for residential use, prohibits selling designated conservation areas, and envisions a right of first refusal for states, tribes, and local governments.
- Opponents including environmental groups and some Republicans argue the plan risks unchecked development and prioritizes tax cuts for the wealthy, with Patrick Donnelly calling it "open season on public lands" and others warning of political backlash.
- The proposal's potential sale of up to 3.3 million acres has drawn widespread disappointment, especially in Nevada where public lands dominate, while opposition highlights that revenue would go to the Treasury, not local communities.
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Mike Lee brings back proposal to sell public land in Utah, other Western states
Utah Sen. Mike Lee is bringing back a proposal that would allow the federal government to sell off several million acres of public land in Utah and other Western states. Lee says it will open up “underused” federal land for…
Utah Republican brings back proposal to sell public land in UT, NV and other Western states
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, right, participates in a forum hosted by the Sutherland Institute at the University of Utah’s Hinckley Institute of Politics in 2024. (Photo: Katie McKellar, Utah News Dispatch)Utah Sen. Mike Lee is bringing back a proposal that would allow the federal government to sell off several million acres of public land in Nevada, Utah and other Western states. Lee says it will open up “underused” federal land for housing a…
Westerman wants partnership in Burgum, Interior Department | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
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