Public Land to Be Sold

JamesD · June 16, 2025, 09:45:06 PM

Guys, the budget bill passing through Washington in the Senate currently proposes selling 3 million acres of public land. It is my opinion that we should be calling our senators to let them know we do not support this. Once the precedent is set, it's difficult to overcome.

https://www.perplexity.ai/page/senate-gop-revives-plan-to-sel-twxGFybkRVuBO_OKqcjOgA

McDave · June 17, 2025, 09:55:50 AM

As presented, few of us would have any problems with "This is not about our most sacred and beautiful places," Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Wednesday. "This is often about barren land next to highways with existing billboards that have no recreational value"

However, as described by the opposition, it would be "open season on public lands, warning that it would put more than 3 million acres on the chopping block to sell at fire-sale prices to build mega-mansions for the ultra-rich"

I doubt that many of the ultra-rich would want to build their mega-mansions on the property described in the first paragraph, so like many things that come out of Washington, the facts seem to be obscured by smoke and mirrors.

woodchucker · June 17, 2025, 11:42:11 AM

Yep, what he said...

streamguy · June 17, 2025, 01:22:03 PM

I think folks need to look closely at the details. Not listen to politicians words. No matter who's in office

Jim Wright · June 17, 2025, 06:38:19 PM

If they are succesful in being able to sell this public land just watch what's coming down the pike! This idea of selling or transferring federal lands to state ownership is not new. And desirable federal lands are easily found in the millions of acres of western BLM and National Forest Lands. If transferring ownership to the states occurs, instead of an outright sale what will happen is the states will then sell or lease them to the highest bidder. If anyone doubts that all this will bring about a scenario where the general public will lose access to these federal lands if they are sold or ownership is transferred, I have some rice farms near Tempe AZ I'm willing to sell you!

Orion · June 17, 2025, 08:57:50 PM

Regardless of who says what, the push to sell public land has come only from one party. Elections have consequences.

Burnsie · June 18, 2025, 10:35:35 AM

Why is it assumed the states will care for our public lands (Federal or State) any better or worse than the folks in DC. There are no Teddy Roosevelt types in Washington anymore.

Mint · June 18, 2025, 12:23:36 PM

If we keep spending like we do each year a lot more public lands will be sold or given to the states to build lower income housing which is happening to a 150 year old farm in NJ with imminent domain. Elections do have consequences.

Trenton G. · June 18, 2025, 01:13:19 PM

I don't care which side of the coin someone is on, this is an issue that anyone who hunts, fishes, camps, hikes, bikes, skis, or uses the outdoors for recreation in any other sort of way should be concerned about. Once it gets through once, it's a slippery slope that's just going to get steeper and slicker the further it goes. Setting a precedent that they can sell public land in the first place is going to let them (the state, the feds, whoever) get their foot in the door and make it even more difficult to defend public land in the future. Once public land is gone, we're not getting it back. There are lots of great organizations out there working to protect these public places that we ALL have access to. Get involved and ensure that we're still going to have the opportunities that we currently do long into the future.

Etter · June 18, 2025, 01:52:14 PM

Quote from: Orion on June 17, 2025, 08:57:50 PMRegardless of who says what, the push to sell public land has come only from one party. Elections have consequences.

Actually, the biden admin tried to steal a ton of public land to build houses for illegals.

Etter · June 18, 2025, 01:52:58 PM

Quote from: Burnsie on June 18, 2025, 10:35:35 AMWhy is it assumed the states will care for our public lands (Federal or State) any better or worse than the folks in DC. There are no Teddy Roosevelt types in Washington anymore.

Bc the states do not have the funding to maintain them.

Etter · June 18, 2025, 01:54:57 PM

I hope everyone stands up to fight any sale of public lands from either side. BHA is a great organization at the forefront of this.

Orion · June 19, 2025, 10:11:20 AM

Etter. Nope. Saying so doesn't make it so.

last arrow · June 19, 2025, 06:12:05 PM

Keep in mind there is nothing in the bill about transferring the lands to the states. The sale is about offsetting the deficit being created by the tax cuts in the bill. They are assuming the lands will sell at inflated prices to make the future deficit look lower. It is unlikely the lands will generate the funds they are projecting.

Terry Green · June 20, 2025, 02:21:33 PM

Selling land to reduce the deficit is a joke.

mjh · June 21, 2025, 08:13:17 AM

So how many have reached out to their elected people in Washington DC?

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation makes it easy:

https://www.rmef.org/take-action/#/

Backcountry Hunter and Anglers makes it easy:

https://www.backcountryhunters.org/take_action#/

I sent massages to my people in Washington.

Trenton G. · June 21, 2025, 10:15:37 AM

I called and let them know my stance on it. It was super easy and takes two minutes of your time.

Trenton G. · June 24, 2025, 02:21:45 PM

It seemed to have worked for now. I don't think they were expecting quite the amount of backlash that they got, but it was awesome seeing how many people came out and let their opinions be known. Definitely something that we need to keep an eye on, but it still feels like a victory today.

Kyle85 · June 24, 2025, 09:10:28 PM

McDave,
If you think politicians lie then why do you believe the politicians who told you they will only sell ugly land next to the highway? If this was 'barren land' with 'no recreational value' then how could they make a buck off of it by selling it?

Also, public land next to highways is not without value. That is where we should be looking to build critical wildlife crossings to prevent winter starvation kills and improve migration corridors. Highways are often built in valleys which means winter range for a lot of animals in the west. It might look 'barren' to a city-voter but that doesn't mean it doesn't have value to wildlife. You and I should know better than to be tricked by a cheap turn of phrase.

McDave · June 25, 2025, 09:25:37 AM

Quote from: Kyle85 on June 24, 2025, 09:10:28 PMMcDave,
If you think politicians lie then why do you believe the politicians who told you they will only sell ugly land next to the highway? If this was 'barren land' with 'no recreational value' then how could they make a buck off of it by selling it?

I don't believe them. I tried to communicate my doubt that they were telling the truth in my original post, but evidently I didn't do a very good job.