US EditionUtah Republican Proposes Sale of More than 2 Million Acres of US Lands
- On June 13, 2025, Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee proposed a budget amendment that mandates the disposal of between 0.5% and 0.75% of federal lands overseen by the U.S. Forest Service and the Interior Department’s land management agency, totaling approximately 2.2 to 3.3 million acres primarily located in Western states.
- The proposal follows earlier narrower efforts to sell specific parcels, aiming to open underused and isolated federal land to expand housing and local development, while excluding national parks and designated or leased lands from sale.
- The amendment directs agencies to prioritize lands near developed areas with infrastructure for residential use and establishes a right of first refusal for states, local governments, and tribes before private buyers can purchase parcels.
- Conservation organizations condemned the proposal as a reckless giveaway that threatens millions of acres of public land with development, while leaders and environmental advocates in Nevada voiced concern about the negative effects on public lands and challenges to housing affordability.
- If enacted, the land sales could shift control of millions of acres to states or private entities, intensifying political debate and opposition, especially from some Republicans and stakeholders concerned about public land access and conservation.
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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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