In recent legislative moves, Congressional Republicans have introduced plans to sell potentially large tracts of federal land, with intentions to generate revenue and mitigate growth issues in rapidly expanding cities in the Western U.S. However, without detailed implementation plans, critics argue this could benefit developers and mining entities more than solving the housing crisis in the region.
A recent bill passed by the House Natural Resources Committee proposes the sale or transfer of approximately 460,000 acres in Nevada and Utah to local governments or private parties. This initiative is part of a comprehensive tax reform plan and follows the Trump administration’s perspective on maximally utilizing public lands rather than conserving them.
The debate over control of these lands is a long-standing issue in the West, where federal ownership accounts for about half of the region’s acerage. As urban areas continue to expand amidst open landscapes, demand for housing and resources like water is increasing. The Republican proposal is reigniting this debate, drawing substantial criticism from Democrats and conservationists who see it as a potential catalyst for similar actions in other states.
Steve Bloch from the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance expressed significant concerns over the precedent this move could set. He emphasized the potential for such measures to spread beyond Utah and Nevada should they succeed.
Some Republicans have also expressed reservations about the plan, suggesting a potential political clash as budget discussions progress.
In Nevada, most of the land designated for sale is in counties containing bustling urban centers such as Reno, Las Vegas, and the quickly growing city of Fernley. Fernley’s City Manager, Benjamin Marchant, notes the opportunity to acquire 12,000 acres of federal land as promising news for a city poised to double in size within the next decade. With aspirations to develop into a tech hub, acquiring land is vital for Fernley’s growth.
Besides urban adjacent areas, other parcels slated for sale include lands near Zion National Park and tribal territories such as the Paiute Indian Tribe reservation in Utah and the Pyramid Lake Paiute reservation in Nevada. Critics like Mathilda Miller from the Native Voters Alliance Nevada express concerns that development pressures could encroach on tribal lands, limiting growth potential and restitution possibilities.
In western Nevada’s rural Pershing County, roughly 100,000 acres could be sold to private interests, notably those with existing mining claims. Additionally, any federal lands sold in this area must be replaced with equivalent nonfederal land to balance the transaction.
Many communities targeted by the sale are constrained by extensive federal land holdings, which account for 80% of Nevada and 63% of Utah. This contrasts sharply with states in the Midwest and East, where federal lands comprise less than 1% of total acreage. These federal holdings often form a “checkerboard” pattern, obstructing seamless development.
Advocates for affordable housing warn that not all federal lands are suitable for such projects. The infrastructure required—such as roads, sewage, and public transit—can make distant federal lands costly to develop for housing purposes, according to Vicki Been from New York University’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. She advises that careful consideration is necessary when evaluating federal land for development.
While the proposal seeks to identify suitable lands in conjunction with local authorities, some remain skeptical about whether enough of this land will support affordable housing initiatives.
The desire to transfer federal lands to local or private stewardship is longstanding among Western conservatives. Last year, Republican leaders in Utah unsuccessfully sought to gain control over vast federal holdings through the courts, with backing from twelve other states. This initiative faced rejection at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Within the GOP, some voices staunchly oppose such land sales, including Montana’s Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sen. Steve Daines, as well as Colorado’s Rep. Jeff Hurd, who was the only Republican committee member to oppose the provision.
The legislation also includes selling approximately 10,000 acres in Utah’s counties, with Representative Celeste Maloy suggesting this will provide space for new homes and expanded water reservoirs. Smaller land transactions are not uncommon by federal agencies like the Bureau of Land Management.