The U.S. Department of the Interior released a four-year strategic plan on November 10 confirming plans to sell federal lands to states, tribes, and local governments. The proposal marks the first time the department has explicitly stated it will sell public lands, despite prior assurances from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum that no such sales were planned.
The plan states that proceeds from the sales would be used to improve local areas and reduce the federal government’s financial responsibility for managing federal lands. However, the document does not specify which lands would be sold, the volume of land involved, or the timeline for the transactions.
Key details of the plan:
- The Interior Department oversees more than 750,000 square miles of federal land.
- The strategic plan does not include specifics on the scope, selection criteria, or timing of the sales.
- A portion of proceeds would be allocated to local improvements and reducing federal land management costs.
The announcement follows a previous legislative effort in July 2025, when the One Big Beautiful Bill Act included provisions to sell between 2.2 million and 3.3 million acres of federal land across 11 western states. That provision was withdrawn after bipartisan opposition, and the bill passed without the land sale measures.
Reactions from lawmakers:
Lawmakers from both parties have criticized the proposal. Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, slated to chair the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee next year, stated, “Public lands belong in public hands.” Republican Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana said his office was not consulted and vowed to block any sales in his state. Other Republicans, including Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho, Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, and former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, have also expressed opposition.
The Interior Department has not provided further details on the implementation of the plan beyond the strategic document.