Trump Administration Plans to Sell Public Lands to Shrink the ‘Federal Estate,’ Drawing Bipartisan Backlash

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 (TodayViralUSA) — The Trump administration plans to sell federal land to states, tribes and local governments in a bid to “decrease the size of the federal estate,” according to a new five-year strategic plan from the Interior Department that drew swift opposition from lawmakers in both parties.

The plan, covering fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and published Nov. 10, says the sales would let the department “focus its resources on primary federal responsibilities and nationally significant federal lands.” It does not say which parcels could be sold, how many acres are involved, how the land would be priced or what counts as “nationally significant.”

What the plan says

Under the framework, a portion of sale proceeds would go back to the buyers to use for conservation elsewhere in their state, locality or tribal land, which the department says would improve recreation access while reducing what taxpayers spend to manage federal property.

The document also calls for targeted land exchanges and transfers to boost domestic energy production, and says the department will “consolidate its workforce to advance operational efficiencies,” without spelling out whether that means layoffs. Interior did not respond to questions from The Hill about the land sales.

The department oversees more than 750,000 square miles, an area larger than Texas and California combined, through agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Most federal land lies in the West; nearly 80% of Nevada is under federal control.

Bipartisan pushback

Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Montana Republican who served as Interior secretary in President Trump’s first term, “remains firmly opposed to the sale or transfer of public lands,” his office said, adding that he would vote against any such measure before he leaves Congress at the end of this term.

“These lands belong to the American people, not private interests looking to cash in. Public lands belong in public hands,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Conservation groups warned the land might not stay public. “There’s nothing stopping a state or a local government or a tribe from turning around and selling land to a private developer,” said Kate Groetzinger of the Center for Western Priorities.

Congress may have the final say

It is unclear whether Interior Secretary Doug Burgum can carry out large-scale sales without legislation, and the strategic plan does not bind future administrations. Last year, a proposal from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee to transfer more than 2 million acres to states and others collapsed amid opposition from both parties — and Democrats take control of both chambers in January.