Utah senator proposes sale of 2 million acres of federal land

Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee has proposed the sale or transfer of more than 2 million acres of federal land to states or other entities as part of a GOP tax cut package, according to the Associated Press. The plan directs the secretaries of interior and agriculture to sell or transfer up to 0.75% of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management holdings, excluding national parks, monuments and wilderness areas.

Lee said the plan would target “isolated parcels” for housing or infrastructure development. Montana was excluded from the proposal after lawmakers objected. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat, said the sales could cause people to “lose access to places they know and care about,” affecting Western economies. Conservation groups criticized the plan, warning it could set a precedent for transferring public lands to developers. Federal officials would need to consult governors, local officials and affected Native American tribes before any sale.