"BILLINGS, Mont. — More than 2 million acres of federal lands would be sold to states or other entities under a budget proposal from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, reviving a longtime ambition of Western conservatives to cede lands to local control after a similar proposal failed in the House.
Lee, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, included a mandate for the sales in a draft provision of the GOP’s sweeping tax cut package released Wednesday.
Sharp disagreement over such sales has laid bare a split among Republicans who support wholesale transfers of federal property to spur development and generate revenue, and other lawmakers who are staunchly opposed.
Land in 11 Western states from Alaska to New Mexico would be eligible for sale. Montana was carved out of the proposal after lawmakers there objected.
A spokesperson for Montana Sen. Steve Daines said Thursday that he is “against the sale of public lands but glad to see Montana exempted.”"
Matthew Brown reports for the Associated Press June 12, 2025.
SEE ALSO:
"Senate GOP Plan Would Sell Millions Of Acres Of Western Public Land" (Washington Post)
"Republicans Want ‘Mandatory Disposal’ Of Public Lands, Including In Idaho" (Idaho Statesman)
"New Provision In Senate Budget Bill Could Put Wyoming Public Lands Up For Sale" (WyoFile)
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