Widespread privatization of public lands was removed from the Federal budget bill for now, but a US Senator from Utah seeks to reinstate provisions.

The US Senate parliamentarian ruled against a public land selloff proposal included in the Republican tax and spending bill on Monday, delivering a victory to a broad coalition of conservationists, outdoorsmen, and elected officials. 

The deal was intended to make between 2 million and 3 million acres of public land available for purchase and development in 11 states, including Nevada, and was expected to generate between $5 and $10 billion. Ninety percent of the proceeds would go to the federal government, with the remaining 10% to be evenly split between state and local governments.

Conservationists caution against the sale of public land of all sizes, stating that the changes could dramatically alter wildlife habitats and public recreation traditions that have been passed down through generations.

“That’s true whether you’re talking about a big chunk of public land that’s adjacent to developing areas or a piece of land that’s landlocked within a city,” said Doug Neilsen, spokesperson and conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. 

Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, who introduced the proposal, is seeking revisions to keep the plan alive, despite widespread bipartisan opposition. His updated plan, which he says is meant to alleviate the nation’s housing shortage, would exempt forests and land more than 5 miles outside of population centers from being sold.  

“The left are trying to dupe conservatives into believing that it will somehow endanger the beautiful scenic landscapes that make the west so special, and somehow threaten the rights of ranchers, of farmers, of hunters and other recreation enthusiasts,” Lee said in a Tuesday interview with Charlie Kirk, a right-wing media personality.

In a Tuesday press release, US Democratic Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) uplifted the Senate parliamentarian’s move to strike the massive public lands selloff from the reconciliation bill, calling it a “backroom plan, crafted without meaningful local input.” She also proposed another plan — the Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act — that would keep the proceeds from land sales in Nevada and “protect Clark County’s essential natural resources.”

“For decades, the law has made sure that proceeds from federal land sales in Nevada stay in Nevada to invest in our water infrastructure, schools, and parks,” Lee wrote in a statement. “Some Republicans in Congress have been trying to change that so they can pay for billionaire tax breaks in their Big Bullshit Bill. Not on my watch.”

Despite the changes to Sen. Mike Lee’s plan, developing public land is dependent on each state’s environment, which conservationists say requires substantial knowledge and local collaboration, particularly in places like Nevada. The state has a unique and vast land mass, made of desert, forest and mountainscapes, which is checkered with privately owned parcels. 

Land Development Threatens Ecosystems and Communities

In the Mojave Desert, where Nevada is located, conservationists manage nearly 900 species of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, and the state ranks 9th in the US in mammal diversity. Nielsen said that when public land is developed, it creates “urban wildlife conflicts,” such as the killing or removal of harmless snakes or interference with deer migration patterns, which could lead to population decline. 

He also warned of the adverse consequences of developing public lands, stating that development could attract “little critters,” such as rabbits and birds, which might congregate around man-made lakes and brush, drawing in “bigger critters” looking for a meal.  

“Coyotes are very adaptable to human presence; the very things that we do to make our world comfortable, to make our communities enjoyable, are the very things that attract them and make life wonderful for them,” he said. “If you had to earn your keep out in the desert, but you look over the hill and there’s water and there’s rabbits, where are you going to go?”

Although he had no position on the matter, his concern about public land sales also centered on access to public lands, which he noted was more extensive in Nevada than in places like Texas, where access requires fees because of privatization. 

One group that took a position and sent thousands of letters opposing public land sales to Congress was the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Devin O’Dea, Western Policy and Conservation Manager at Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, stated that the plan diminishes the value of public lands and circumvents stakeholder input.

“America’s affordable housing crisis is something that needs to be addressed, and there are mechanisms to do that,” O’Dea said. “But the budget reconciliation proposals don’t reflect the actual value of these lands.”

That value lies within the state’s heritage. 

O’Dea said Nevada is unlike other states and offers immersive adventures that retain a “Western ethos” for families who want to explore, camp, or connect with wildlife in remote areas.

“The discussion needs to be targeted with local community input, not this broad brush that says we can sell millions of acres of public lands with very little restrictions on what those lands could be,” O’Dea said.