In a significant win for public lands and the voices of countless outdoor enthusiasts, a recent and deeply concerning legislative proposal to sell off nearly half a million acres of public land in Nevada and Utah has been successfully withdrawn in the U.S. House of Representatives. This outcome is a testament to the power of collective action and bipartisan cooperation in protecting our shared natural heritage.
The Proposal and the Timeline
The issue arose in early May 2025, when an amendment was quietly added to a major budget reconciliation bill. This amendment, championed by Representatives Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT), proposed the sale and transfer of approximately 450,000 to 500,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in Nevada and around 11,000 to 11,500 acres in Utah. The stated purposes included facilitating infrastructure projects, mining, economic development, and affordable housing.
The amendment was added during a House Natural Resources Committee meeting around May 7th. It quickly drew alarm from public land advocates who noted the lack of public input, the circumvention of established land disposal processes, and concerns that funds from such sales would not be reinvested into conservation or improving public access.
A Groundswell of Opposition
The proposal triggered a swift and strong backlash from a broad coalition of over 100 outdoor organizations, including hunting and fishing groups, conservation organizations, and recreation advocates. Groups like the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, and many others voiced strong opposition, emphasizing that public lands are a cornerstone of American outdoor traditions and should not be sold off through last-minute budget maneuvers.
Bipartisan Action in Congress
Critically, the opposition was not limited to advocacy groups. A significant bipartisan effort emerged within Congress to fight the land sale provision. Montana Representative Ryan Zinke (R-MT), a former Secretary of the Interior, played a key role, vocally opposing the amendment and referring to its defeat as his “San Juan Hill”. He, along with other concerned lawmakers, helped galvanize resistance.
This period also saw the formation of the bipartisan House Public Lands Caucus, co-founded by Rep. Zinke and Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), with other founding members including Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI).[7, 10, 11] This caucus, comprising members from both parties, aims to promote policies that advance conservation and public access, highlighting a shared commitment to protecting these national assets.
Success: Amendment Removed
Thanks to this intense pressure from the public and the principled stand taken by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the controversial land sale amendment was stripped from the budget reconciliation bill by the House Rules Committee on the evening of May 21st, through a “manager’s amendment”. The full budget bill, without the land sale provision, subsequently passed the House in a narrow vote.
Your Voice Made a Difference!
This victory demonstrates that when the public lands community speaks up, Washington listens. Friends of Gold Butte extends a heartfelt thank you to all our members and supporters who took the time to contact their congressional representatives, send letters, and make phone calls. Your actions were instrumental in achieving this positive outcome.
While this particular threat to our public lands has been averted, the larger budget bill still contains other provisions that concern conservationists, including potential impacts on environmental review processes and funding for land management agencies. The bill now moves to the Senate, where continued vigilance will be necessary.
For now, let us celebrate this important win and reaffirm our commitment to protecting the public lands that enrich our lives and define our Western heritage. Thank you for standing with us!
