As the federal deficit continues to climb, Republicans have signaled willingness to use the sale of public lands to pay off national debt and advance President Trump’s agenda.^[1] Senators from the Mountain West have been particularly resistant to this idea, proposing different amendments and bills to stave off the sale of federal land to private developers. The economic and cultural significance of national parks and federal lands have spurred responses from numerous senators and representatives to bolster the protection and conservation of public lands, to ensure continued access to outdoor recreation, and to keep National Park Services workers fully employed over the course of the Trump administration. Although not all congressional action has been successful, the flurry of new legislation demonstrates the widespread opposition to selling one of America’s most treasured resources.

Congressional legislation to prevent such sales has been in action since the beginning of the Trump administration. Introduced on January 23, the Public Lands in Public Hands Act seeks to protect public lands from being sold to private parties.^[2] The bill, if passed, would prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from transferring any public land greater than 300 acres to a non-federal entity. The bill was introduced on January 23^rd by US Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), and on April 8^th, Mike Simpson and Troy Downing joined to co-sponsor the bill.^[3]

More recently, Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO) along with twelve co-sponsors introduced Amendment 2107 to the Congressional Budget, which would have restricted the ability of Congress to use the sale of public lands to lower the federal deficit.^[4] Specifically, the act would prevent “the use of proceeds from public land sales to reduce the Federal deficit.”^[5] The amendment ultimately failed in the Senate by a narrow 51-48 vote.^[6] Only two Republican senators — Steve Daines (R-MT) and Tim Sheehy (R-MT) — voted in favor of the amendment, while all other Republican senators voted against.^[7]

Attempts to protect the access and integrity of national lands are happening on the state level as well. On April 8th, U.S. Representative Neguse and Colorado Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet reintroduced a bill to amend the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1933.^[8] The act, if passed, would expand Colorado’s Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area by 6,817 acres, allowing increased access to outdoor recreation and greater protection for the area’s wildlife and natural habitats.^[9] While this amendment would not have the direct effect of preventing future sales of public land, the expansion of the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area would ensure continued access to Colorado’s natural landscape.[10]

Finally, the Protect Our Parks Act and the Save Our Forest Act were both introduced on March 11^th to rehire all the National Park Service employees that were fired during the first months of the Trump Administration.^[11] The acts attempt to use previously appropriated funds to rehire and increase the staffing at the national parks to “ensure visitor safety and enjoyment and national and cultural resource protection of the National Park System.”^[12]

Despite any setbacks, legislative efforts to preserve America’s natural heritage underscore the enduring and bipartisan commitment to keep national parks preserved for the general public.

 

 

[1] Garrett Downs & Kelsey Brugger, Republicans Weigh Sales of Public Land in Reconciliation, E&E News (Apr. 2, 2025), https://www.eenews.net/articles/republicans-weigh-sales-of-public-land-in-reconciliation.

[2] H.R.718, 119^th Cong. (2025).

[3] Id.

[4] S.Admt.1717, 119^th Cong. (2025).

[5] Id.

[6] Kurt Repanshak, Senate, By Slim Margin, Open to Selling Public Lands, National Parks Traveler (April 6, 2025), https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/04/senate-slim-margin-open-selling-public-lands.

[7] Id.

[8] H.R.2734, 119^th Cong. (2025).

[9] U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, Bennet, Hickenlooper, Neguse Reintroduce Bill to Expand Sarvis Creek Wilderness (April 9, 2025), https://www.bennet.senate.gov/2025/04/09/bennet-hickenlooper-neguse-reintroduce-bill-to-expand-sarvis-creek-wilderness/.

[10] Id.

[11] S.949, 119^th Cong. (2025).

[12] Id.