Action Alert: Our Public Lands Are Not For Sale.
May 22, 2025 Update
In a surprising update, the sale of public lands in Nevada and Arizona were blocked! Check out the latest HERE.
May 12, 2025 Update: Check out the latest from our advocacy partners, Outdoor Alliance:
Midnight Land Sales in Reconciliation Megabill
REad More at Outdoor Alliance
Last week, Republicans in the House Natural Resources committee advanced a bill that could put more than 500,000 acres of public land up for sale. The land sales were passed as an amendment to a massive budget reconciliation package, a sprawling bill that also includes rollbacks on conservation efforts and the public process.
The public land sales were introduced—literally at midnight—during the committee markup. The amendment, introduced by Reps. Mark Amodei (R-NV) and Celeste Maloy (R-UT) authorizes land sales managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, with little explanation of why the parcels were chosen or how the sales would benefit the public. By all accounts, the land sales will pay for tax cuts and spending.
Many of these lands are popular recreation areas, overlapping climbing, mountain biking, paddling, and camping zones. In southern Utah, the maps include Hurricane Cliffs, the Plateau Passage, a long-distance bike route, climbing in Coral Canyon Ridge, the Green Valley race course, and the Virgin River. In Nevada, even local Clark County officials opposed the amendment, but their concerns were ignored.
What’s next?
This bill still needs to move through the full House and Senate. That gives us a window to act. If lawmakers hear loud and clear that their constituents oppose public land giveaways and NEPA rollbacks, there’s a real chance to strip some of the most damaging provisions from the bill.
If you haven’t already, take two minutes to write your lawmakers and tell them: public lands are not a piggy bank, not assets on a balance sheet, not a blank check.
Images provided by our advocacy partners at Outdoor Alliance’s GIS Lab
The ongoing budget discussions in Congress have raised a concerning prospect: the potential sale of America’s public lands to offset lost tax revenue and federal spending. As mountain bikers and passionate advocates for outdoor recreation, we view this proposal with considerable apprehension, given its shortsightedness and the significant risk it poses to the future of public access, our economy, and the well-being of Californians.
Our public lands are more than just ride spots; they are the very fabric of our outdoor pursuits. Millions rely on these spaces for activities ranging from invigorating mountain bike rides and challenging climbs to serene hikes, exhilarating ski descents, tranquil paddling excursions, and immersive camping experiences, forging a vital connection with the natural world. To consider these lands as mere fiscal instruments sets a perilous precedent with far-reaching and irreversible implications. The pursuit of short-term financial gains through the sale of public lands directly imperils long-term access, critical conservation efforts, and the significant economic contributions of the outdoor recreation economy. Once these natural treasures are transferred, their return is not an option.
Now is the time to communicate to your lawmakers that the sale of public lands to offset lost tax revenue or spending reductions is unacceptable. Our public lands are not a disposable asset; they are a vital legacy that demands our unwavering protection. Let them know: these trails are not for sale.
