"President-elect Donald Trump once rejected the idea of selling public lands to states because he wanted 'to keep the lands great.'

It's a statement environmentalists and sportsmen have held up as the silver lining to an uncertain future: Public lands, they hoped, would at least stay public.

But on Tuesday, that hope gave way to fear and uncertainty, when the Republican-controlled House passed a rule that will allow the chamber to consider federal land transfers cost-free and budget-neutral."

Emily Yehle and Jennifer Yachnin report for Greenwire January 5, 2017. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Push To Transfer Federal Lands To States Has Sportsmen On Edge" (NPR) [3]

"Conservation Groups Are Worried That Congress Will Give Away Public Lands" (Buzzfeed) [4]