Sen. Lee Narrows Federal Land Sale Proposal

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has substantially revised his proposal to sell millions of acres of federal public land in 11 Western states following bipartisan backlash and a Senate parliamentarian ruling that barred the land sale provision from the GOP's budget reconciliation bill. The updated plan now excludes all U.S. Forest Service land and limits eligible Bureau of Land Management parcels to those within five miles of population centers. Lee claims the revisions are intended to protect farmers, ranchers, recreational users, and support affordable housing, while details on the proposed 'freedom zones' remain unclear. Critics continue to warn that the proposal could still reduce public land access and primarily benefit real estate developers. The plan's legislative future is uncertain, with ongoing opposition from both Democrats and Republicans concerned about environmental and public access impacts. The original proposal targeted 3.3 million acres across 11 states, a scope now significantly reduced.