06/28/2025
https://support.nwf.org/page/84827/action/1
America's public lands embody a revolutionary promise. Rejecting the European model that reserved the best lands and wildlife for the crown, our nation established that our majestic natural treasures would be the birthright of every American. These lands are not only central to our identity—the places we hunt, fish, and recreate across generations—they also serve as the foundation of America’s outdoor recreation economy, which supports more than five million jobs and contributes mightily to our US economy.
A recent proposal in the Senate’s budget reconciliation package threatens to begin liquidating this natural inheritance of every American. The provision would force the disposal of more than a million acres of federal land across the West. While this is not an assault on our iconic national parks, wildlife refuges, and other designated lands, it does target the lands of the Bureau of Land Management where tens of millions of Americans hunt, fish, and
hike. Importantly, these same public lands that are proposed to be sold also provide vital public access for sportsmen and women to other adjoining public lands. This is a bad deal for taxpayers, a threat to our way of life! It just doesn’t make fiscal sense to liquidate capital assets that generate a compounding $1.1 trillion return annually for a one-time payment of what is, in the grand scheme of things, a relatively small amount of money. That’s
not just selling the family farm; it's selling it for a fraction of a single year’s harvest.
Senate leaders are proposing to sell off hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands. This would be a disaster for wildlife and our sporting traditions. Access to lands we use to hunt and fish could be completely cut off. Tell your senators not to sell off public lands.