BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration wants sell public land to states, tribes and local governments as part of an effort to “reduce the size of the federal estate,” according to a new plan outlined by the Interior Department.
Agency officials said selling the federal property would allow the government to focus its resources on “nationally significant” lands, which have not been defined. They provided no details on which parcels could be sold, or the extent or location of potential sales.
The proposal was quickly rejected by some lawmakers, including Trump’s former Interior secretary, the Republican. Representative Ryan Zinkeshowing that he faces strong headwinds in Congress even before Democrats gain the majority in January.
The Ministry of the Interior five-year strategic plan also calls for land transfers and swaps to support greater energy production, a centerpiece of the administration’s pro-fossil fuel policies. This reflects the Trump administration’s view that most public lands are assets to be used rather than to be used. set aside for preservation.
The Interior Department oversees more than 750,000 square miles (1.9 million square kilometers) of land – an area larger than Texas and California combined – as well as vast underground mineral reserves. That puts the agency at the center of a decades-long contentious debate over whether the government controls too much land.
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum as he speaks during a tour of the White House Ballroom building, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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The Associated Press sent emails to Interior officials Wednesday seeking comment and additional details.
Most public lands are in Western states. In some countries, the government controls the vast majority of land, protecting it from possible exploitation but also inhibiting growth. Nevada, for example, is nearly 80% federally controlled.
Interior officials said a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the land would be returned to the buyer for conservation elsewhere.
Still, it’s unclear whether Interior Secretary Doug Burgum can achieve his administration’s goals without cooperation from Congress.
Federal law places significant constraints on public land sales, said Mark Squillace, a professor of natural resources law at the University of Colorado Law School.
Land cannot be sold if it is under protected status. And before a sale can take place, it must be deemed appropriate according to certain criteria. These include cases of land that is unprofitable to manage or whose sale “would serve important public purposes, including, but not limited to, community expansion and economic development.”
Zinke’s office said in a statement that he “remains strongly opposed to the sale or transfer of public lands.” He said Zinke would vote against any legislation on the issue if it passed before the lawmaker leaves Congress after this term.
Top Democrats serving on the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees, buoyed by their party’s success in last week’s elections. midterm elections – pledged to fight against any sale of land.
New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich said federal lands “belong to the American people, not to private interests seeking to profit from them.”
Democratic Representative from California. Jared Huffman said Democrats would resist the move.
“Americans love their public lands and sent a clear message last week that the Trump administration’s plans to auction off our precious resources and silence opposition must stop now. Congressional Democrats will keep their promises,” Huffman said.
Some Western lawmakers last year sought to sell off large swaths of land in Utah and Nevada, saying it could generate income and alleviate growth pressures in booming cities. Among the proposals, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee suggested sell more than 2 million acres (8,000 square kilometers) to States or other entities.
These efforts failed in the face of bipartisan opposition.
The plan sets out a roadmap for the Interior Department’s priorities and actions between 2026 and 2030. Future administrations would not be bound by this roadmap.
The department regulates mining, drilling, grazing, recreation and other activities over which many state and local officials want greater control. The Interior includes the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The agency’s strategic plan was last updated four years ago under former Democratic President Joe Biden.
Burgum and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner proposed last year use “underutilized” federal lands for affordable housing. Turner said some 7 million homes were needed. Officials under Biden have also sought to use public lands to build affordable housing, although on a smaller scale.
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