Senate Republicans Propose Controversial Sale of Federal Lands to Boost Housing

Senate Republicans are advocating for the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of federal land as part of a larger housing initiative, but the plan faces pushback from conservatives who prioritize land conservation.

Senate Republicans are advancing a contentious proposal that aims to sell millions of acres of federal land as part of a broader tax and spending bill put forth by President Trump. This initiative would mandate the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to identify and sell between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres of public land across 11 states in the West to facilitate new housing developments.

Previous attempts to lease federal land have faced severe backlash from conservationists and even some members within the Republican Party. For instance, a more modest effort to auction off roughly 500,000 acres in Utah and Nevada was removed from the House tax bill after opposition emerged from Representative Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana and former Interior Secretary. Zinke expressed strong reservations, stating, "This was my San Juan Hill; I do not support the widespread sale or transfer of public lands. Once the land is sold, we will never get it back."

The recent measure to sell off public lands was included in draft legislation released on Wednesday by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The plan envisions generating up to $10 billion through land sales for housing projects in states like Arizona, California, and Colorado over the next five years. Interestingly, Montana, home to Zinke, is excluded from this list of targeted areas.

Senator Mike Lee, the Utah Republican heading the energy committee, defended the initiative by claiming it would convert “federal liabilities into taxpayer value, while making housing more affordable for hardworking American families.” The ongoing debate reflects a significant clash within GOP ranks over priorities concerning land use and development.