A new budget reconciliation package released by the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee has ignited controversy nationwide, with conservation groups warning that more than 250 million acres of public land could be put up for sale if the bill passes.

The bill, updated on June 14, mandates the disposal of at least 2 million to 3 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands across 11 western states, but authorizes the sale of vastly more, potentially up to 258 million acres.

The lands eligible for sale include local recreation areas, wilderness study areas, inventoried roadless areas, and other administratively protected landscapes. While national monuments and certain federally protected lands are exempt, the bill leaves many critical habitats, wilderness areas, and lands with significant cultural and ecological value on the table for privatization. 

Any interested party may purchase the land, with limited safeguards or restrictions on use, and state or local governments are given little advantage in the bidding process. Notably, the legislation does not grant Tribal Nations the right of first refusal.

The targeted states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The Wilderness Society called the move “a betrayal of future generations,” warning that it threatens access to outdoor spaces and undermines decades of bipartisan conservation policy. There is also concern that the bill could set a dangerous precedent, allowing Congress to liquidate public lands to fund unrelated federal priorities.

The bill is advancing through the Senate as part of a larger spending package, using the reconciliation process to bypass the usual debate and amendment procedures.