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New Provision in Senate Budget Bill Could Put Wyoming Public Lands up for Sale
- Senator Mike Lee is reviving a push to sell nearly 500,000 acres of public land in Nevada and Utah through a Senate budget bill in June 2025.
- This initiative follows a failed House amendment proposed by Utah Rep. Celeste Maloy and emerges amid strong opposition highlighted by a letter from over 100 groups.
- The bill mandates that the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture compile and release a list of federal land parcels available for sale and engage with state and local officials to evaluate their potential for housing development.
- Polling of 4,000 U.S. residents in April found over 70% oppose selling public lands, while advocates argue the proposal benefits billionaires and threatens recreation areas.
- The proposal’s progress sparks political debate, with some senators opposing land sales as a giveaway to the wealthy, suggesting it risks public access and conservation values.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Oil City News
WyoFileNew provision in Senate budget bill could put Wyoming public lands up for sale
by Andrew Graham, WyoFile Senate Republicans will consider mandating a sell-off of an estimated 2.5 million acres of public land, including possible parcels in Wyoming, in the budget bill they are now reconciling, a proposal Utah Sen. Mike Lee released Wednesday night shows. The plan from Lee describes selling the land as both a way to raise money to fill federal coffers and to open up land for housing in western communities that have struggled …
Sen. Mike Lee resurrects push to sell off wide swaths of public lands in Utah and across the West
Mike Lee, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released draft legislation that could become part of President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” on Wednesday evening.
Idaho Press
KPVIMore than 100 environmental groups sign letter opposing return of public lands sale
Originally published June 10 on IdahoCapitalSun.com.Organizations from around the country signed a letter on Monday urging U.S. senators not to include a controversial proposal to sell thousands of acres of federal land in Congress’ budget bill.
Daines, Sheehy wrestle with reemergence of public land sale proposal in Trump’s big budget bill
This story is excerpted from the MT Lowdown, a weekly newsletter digest containing original reporting and analysis published every Friday. A proposal to sell 500,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management holdings in Nevada and Utah that’s generated political conversation and consternation in recent months reemerged last week. The proposal was amended into the One Big Beautiful Bill Act by the House Natural Resources Committee in early May, then str…
Dozens of environmental groups sign letter opposing return of public lands sale
People rally in opposition of Utah’s lawsuit attempting to take control of federal lands at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)Organizations from around the country signed a letter on Monday urging U.S. senators not to include a controversial proposal to sell thousands of acres of federal land in Congress’ budget bill. The letter comes in the wake of reports that Utah Sen. Mik…
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