Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said he will revise his plan for selling off public lands after the Senate’s parliamentarian ruled it cannot move forward as part of a Republican policy bill.
Lee’s initial legislation would have sold off millions of acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land in up to 11 states.
However, the Senate’s arbiter ruled that the provision cannot move forward through the upper chamber’s budget reconciliation process, which allows it to pass some limited provisions with a simple majority, meaning it does not need any Democrat votes.
Lee, in a post on X, said he would revamp the plan. The new legislation will still sell off land owned by the Bureau of Land Management — but not that owned by the Forest Service.
He also said he would “SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE” the amount of land in the bill, limiting it only to lands within five miles of a population center.
Lee added he would seek to establish “FREEDOM ZONES to ensure these lands benefit AMERICAN FAMILIES.” He did not say what that entails.
He also said he would “PROTECT our farmers, ranchers, and recreational users. They come first.”
“Yes, the Byrd Rule limits what can go in the reconciliation bill, but I’m doing everything I can to support President Trump and move this forward,” Lee added, referring to the Senate’s procedural rule that prevents “extraneous” measures from being included in reconciliation bills.
Lee has said he wants to sell public lands and use them for housing as population growth means more people need homes.
The moves received significant pushback from Democrats — as well as certain Republicans who oppose public land sales.
