Fourth GOP Senator Threatens No Vote on Trump Public Lands Bill

President Trump’s "big, beautiful bill" is at risk of stalling in the Senate after Montana Sen. Tim Sheehy (R) threatened to vote against a critical motion to proceed due to a provision requiring the sale of millions of acres of public lands, a move he opposes. This provision, sponsored by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), mandates the Interior Secretary to sell between 0.25% and 0.5% of public lands to aid housing development in the American West, though Montana is exempted. Sheehy’s opposition marks the fourth Republican defection, joining Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), putting the bill's advancement in jeopardy as Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) can only afford three GOP defections to move the measure forward. Tillis has also cited steep federal Medicaid cuts as a reason for his no vote, warning that the bill could lead to significant funding losses in states like North Carolina, affecting hospitals and Medicaid coverage. Despite Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley (R) backing the bill, the divided GOP raises serious doubts about the legislation's prospects in the Senate. The debate underscores ongoing tensions within the Republican caucus over public land sales and Medicaid funding priorities.