Federal land sales proposal in Interior Department plan draws early congressional pushback

The Trump administration was seeking to sell some federal public lands to states, tribes and local governments. The Interior Department said the aim was to shrink the federal estate. Officials said sales would let the government focus on nationally significant lands. The department did not define those lands or identify parcels for sale.

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The Interior Department managed over 1.9 million square kilometres of land. That area was larger than Texas and California combined. The agency also oversaw large underground mineral reserves. This role placed Interior in a long-running dispute. Critics argued the federal government controlled too much land.

Interior Department public lands sale plan faces early political resistance

The proposal met quick resistance from lawmakers, including Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke. Zinke was a former Interior secretary under Trump. The pushback suggested a difficult path in Congress. The challenge appeared sharper before Democrats took the majority in January.

Zinke’s office said in a statement that he remained firmly opposed to the sale or transfer of public lands. The statement said Zinke would vote against any related bill. That position applied if legislation moved before Zinke left Congress after this term.

Democrats who led natural resources committees also said they would oppose land sales. Democratic New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich said federal lands belonged to the American people. Heinrich said they did not belong to private interests seeking profits. California Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman said Democrats would resist the plan.

"Americans love their public lands and sent a clear message last week: the Trump administrations schemes to auction off our treasured resources and silence opposition must stop now. Democrats in Congress are going to deliver, Huffman said.\"

Interior Department public lands sale plan and rules for federal land sales

Legal limits could restrict major sales without Congress. Mark Squillace, a natural resources law professor at University of Colorado Law School, cited federal rules. Land under protected status could not be sold. A sale also had to meet set criteria before approval.

Those criteria included land that was uneconomic to manage. They also included sales serving key public goals. Examples included, but were not limited to, community expansion and economic development. Interior officials said part of any sale proceeds would be returned to the buyer. The funds were meant for conservation purposes elsewhere.

The Associated Press sent emails to Interior officials Wednesday seeking comment and added details. The department did not provide specifics on the scope of sales. Officials did not describe locations or timelines. The plan also did not state how decisions would be made on eligibility.

Interior Department public lands sale plan linked to energy and Western land control

Interior’s five-year strategic plan also called for land transfers and exchanges. Officials said those moves would support greater energy production. That approach aligned with the administration’s pro-fossil fuel policies. The plan reflected a view of public lands as assets for use. It placed less emphasis on preservation.

Most public lands were in Western states, where federal ownership was often high. In some states, control protected land from exploitation. It also limited development, according to some local leaders. Nevada was cited as an example. The federal government controlled almost 80 per cent of Nevada.

Some Western lawmakers had earlier pushed land sales in Utah and Nevada. Supporters said sales could raise revenue and ease growth in fast-growing cities. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee suggested selling over 2 million acres. The figure was also described as 8,000 square kilometres.

Those efforts failed after bipartisan opposition. The new strategy plan set priorities and actions for 2026 to 2030. Future administrations would not be bound by the plan. Interior regulated mining, drilling, grazing and recreation. Many state and local officials wanted greater control over these activities.

The department included the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service. It also included the Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs. The agency’s strategic plan was last updated four years ago. That update took place under former Democratic President Joe Biden.

Burgum and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner last year proposed using underutilised federal land. The idea was to support affordable housing. Turner said some 7 million homes were needed. Officials under Biden also sought public land for housing. That effort was described as smaller in scale.

With inputs from PTI