Effectively, they warned us. For greater than 50 years, for the reason that Seventies, conservatives have been making an attempt to steal People’ most treasured sources, our shared possession in what are referred to as federal lands however actually are public lands, lands owned by you and me. Starting with the so-called Sagebrush Riot, they’ve attacked federal land possession from all angles. Now, with Donald Trump as president, it seems the federal government is, at minimal, open to promoting public lands to non-public house owners. I say “seems” as a result of no one within the administration has but steered dumping land explicitly, however they positive are hinting at it, and the various public lands activists I’ve contacted are terrified Trump will carve away components of the commons at a pittance.
In an essay printed on Time’s web site final week (
“Trump Shouldn’t Promote our Public Lands”), Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert wrote, “This Congress and the Trump administration are attempting to make it simpler to lease or promote 640 million acres of public lands, together with America’s most iconic landscapes, and switch our again on the Indigenous and native teams that championed their safety. The federal government’s plans might revoke our entry to hike, climb, camp, fish, and hunt within the locations we treasure. Small-business house owners who depend on vacationers would endure from the drop in visitation. All the surrounding communities can be affected by the financial shift and the air pollution that will come when the drilling or mining begins.”
The problem will get weedy and wonky fairly quick, however I’ll simplify it as finest I can. States have lengthy tried to take federal lands with no success. At his affirmation, new Inside Secretary Doug Burgum talked of treating authorities like a enterprise and extracting worth from U.S. belongings. “A few of these areas we’ve got to completely defend for his or her treasured stuff, however the remainder of it, that is America’s steadiness sheet,” he mentioned. “If we prohibit entry, we don’t reduce a tree, we don’t use them for recreation, after which we don’t develop the minerals sustainably and in a sensible means, then we get a brilliant low return for the American folks.”
Land Towney, the co-chair of American Hunters and Anglers Motion Community,
mentioned, “Taking a look at our public lands as a part of a steadiness sheet? That’s shit that’s by no means been mentioned out loud earlier than.”
Fast reminder: Governments will not be for-profit companies, and the worth of land is far, far more than its extractive or promoting worth.
Two different strikes level to the administration’s intentions. First, Trump desires to create what’s referred to as a sovereign wealth fund, an enormous kitty of American cash for investing. With the U.S.
$36 trillion in debt,
the simplest and quickest option to gasoline the fund is by promoting land. Second, in January, the Republican-led Congress handed a rule that makes it simpler to switch, promote, donate, or trade lands.
From the Out of doors Alliance once more: “This budgetary maneuver is designed to make it seem like giving freely or promoting public land would value nothing. In truth, public lands present precious ecosystem companies like clear air and water, are a big supply of presidency income, type the inspiration of the $1.2 trillion out of doors recreation financial system, and are instrumental to the well-being of native communities throughout the nation.”
Let’s be clear. The U.S. authorities has the appropriate and duty to transact land on behalf of all People. That’s not what we’re speaking about right here. That is trying like a wholesale assault by individuals who for many years have been making an attempt to dismantle our nationwide treasures. Within the first month of the Trump administration, we’ve got seen nearly gleeful assaults on establishments just like the Nationwide Park Service and Forest Service with little regard for individuals who make them run or the impact on the lands they handle. Even when you agree authorities must be smaller, Trump, Musk, and firm have introduced chaos and
possible illegality to the method. Given their report thus far, there’s nothing to counsel they’d method public lands with sensitivity, nuance, or understanding. Fairly the alternative.
Let’s even be clear that People throughout the political spectrum cherish public lands and are against promoting them. It is a bipartisan challenge. Certainly, the historically conservative looking and angling neighborhood has been out forward of the human-powered recreation neighborhood at warning of the assaults on public land and combating to protect entry. Lastly, the argument in favor of constant federal possession might be forged in starkly financial phrases. As talked about above, out of doors recreation generates $1.2 trillion in financial progress and is chargeable for 5 million U.S. jobs. The out of doors rec financial system is 3.5 occasions greater than the airline or auto manufacturing industries, twice the dimensions of agriculture and forestry, and 1.5 occasions the dimensions of oil and gasoline improvement and mining.
So, how do you’re taking motion? Make your voice heard.
There’s a type on this web page the place you may shortly ship an electronic mail to your representatives. If you wish to name or electronic mail them straight,
you will discover their data right here. You additionally ought to convey your assist the
Public Lands in Public Arms Act, a bipartisan Home invoice launched by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) and Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), which blocks the sale or switch of huge parcels (300 acres or extra) managed by the Division of the Inside and the U.S. Forest Service.
Lastly, maintain your eye on this area. I’m following the problem intently and can proceed to report on it.
Stephen Casimiro
Founder + Editor
Picture: At march in assist of nationwide parks, Joshua Tree, California, March 1, 2025, by Stephen Casimiro
