A controversial provision in the federal budget reconciliation bill would require the federal government to sell off millions of acres of public lands—including land in Colorado—for housing development.
The proposal, if enacted, could mandate the sale of up to 3.3 million acres across 11 western states, prompting backlash from Colorado’s Democratic congressional delegation, who argue it would threaten the state’s outdoor heritage and access to public lands. Currently, more than one-third of Colorado is federally owned.
The plan would direct the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service to solicit nominations for lands that could be converted to private ownership. However, certain areas would be excluded, including:
- National parks and monuments
- Wild and scenic rivers
- Lands with grazing permits, oil and gas leases, mining claims, or existing rights-of-way
Critics say the provision would prioritize development at the expense of conservation and outdoor recreation.
📄 The full legislative text and updates on the bill are available at congress.gov.
