Senate Rules Block GOP Plan to Sell 3,200 Square Miles Federal Lands

A proposal by Senate Energy Chairman Mike Lee to sell more than 3,200 square miles (over 2 million acres) of federal lands in Western states has been ruled out of Republicans' major tax and spending cut bill after the Senate parliamentarian determined it violated chamber rules. Lee's plan aimed to transfer public lands to states or other entities for housing and infrastructure development, reflecting a longtime conservative goal of ceding federal lands to local control. The proposal drew mixed reactions, with some Western governors supporting targeted land sales to address housing shortages, while Democrats and environmental groups strongly opposed it, citing threats to clean water, wildlife, and public recreation. Lee argued that high housing prices necessitate changes and indicated he would revise the plan to exclude U.S. Forest Service lands and limit Bureau of Land Management land sales to areas near population centers. Environmental advocates hailed the parliamentarian's ruling as a victory for the public, but cautioned the proposal is not dead. The debate underscores ongoing tensions between development interests and conservation priorities over management of public lands in the West.