Republican Sen. Mike Lee says the sale would only include ‘isolated parcels’ for developing housing and infrastructure projects that could boost the economy|@SenMikeLee|X
Republican Senator Mike Lee has proposed a controversial provision to the “Big Beautiful Bill” that could authorize the sale of 2.1 to 3.2 million acres of public land across 11 states over the next five years.
The targeted lands fall under the management of the Bureau of Land Management and the US Forest Service, which together oversee about 250 million acres. The proposal has triggered bipartisan criticism.
Critics, including conservation groups, hunters, local officials, and even fellow Republicans, warn the proposal threatens access to cherished public lands and won’t deliver meaningful housing benefits.
Sen. Lee says the sale would only include “isolated parcels” for developing housing and infrastructure projects that could boost the economy. He emphasized that national parks, national monuments, and wilderness areas would remain untouched.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the sale would generate $5 billion to $10 billion over the next decade.
Affected states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.