Thousands Protest Proposed Public Land Sales Across Western States

A proposal introduced by Senator Mike Lee to sell millions of acres of public lands across 11 Western states, including parts of New Mexico, has sparked widespread protests. The provision, which was part of a U.S. Senate Budget Reconciliation bill and supported by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, aimed to sell between two and three million acres to private buyers for urban development, oil, gas production, logging, mining, and data centers. Thousands of demonstrators, including hunters, fishers, environmentalists, and tribal leaders, rallied in Santa Fe against the plan, emphasizing the cultural, ecological, and economic importance of these lands, particularly for tourism and indigenous communities. Protesters criticized the claim that federal employees mismanage public lands and warned that the sale could irreversibly damage New Mexico's natural heritage and economy. The Trump administration's broader review of national monument protections, including areas like Chaco Culture National Historical Park, also faces opposition from local tribes and conservation groups. The bill's lack of affordability requirements for housing developments on these lands and the extensive acreage at risk have intensified calls to stop the public land sales.