This is for those with their heads in the sand, which is a pretty comfortable place to be usually. But when hunting season comes, and you need to get out if only for your dogs, you might not be able to go anywhere.
Regardless of your political persuasion, if you use public land in any way (running cattle on it, hiking, fishing, boating, camping, hunting, biking, ATV-ing, or just setting foot on it because you can), you’re about to lose that right, which Americans have had for generations. This is real.
“Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill requires the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of publicly owned land, an amendment authorizes the sale of 258 million acres more over the next five years. The amendment comes from the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and was written by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Steve Daines (R-MT).
It includes Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service lands in 11 states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. As Siler notes, while the measure does not currently include national monument lands, the Department of Justice under Trump is arguing that the president can revoke national monument protections. If it did so, that would make another 13.5 million acres available for purchase.
Siler notes the process for selling those lands calls for an enormous rush on sales, “all without hearings, debate, or public input opportunities.” (From HCR, June 17, 2025)
Here’s a map of the land in question (click on the image to bring up an interactive map; link is also below the image):
If you haven’t already, call your Republican congresspeople and tell them that Public Land is not for sale. Congressional switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
Chirp away