Trump team's plan to sell public lands to decrease size of federal estate draws immediate backlash

President Donald Trump's administration wants to sell public lands to states, tribes and local governments as part of a push to "decrease the size of the federal estate," according to a new five-year strategy released by the Interior Department.The agency said that selling federal property would allow the U.S. government to focus resources on "nationally significant" lands. No specifics were provided regarding which areas might be offered, nor the exact scale or geography of prospective sales.The proposal quickly drew criticism from several legislators, including Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana who served as Interior Secretary during Trump's first term.The strategy also recommends targeted land exchanges and transfers to bolster domestic energy production, a core element of the administration's pro-fossil fuel agenda. It underlines the administration's belief that public grounds are economic assets to be utilized rather than set aside for conservation.Controlling more than 750,000 square miles (1.9 million square kilometers) — an area larger than Texas and California combined — as well as massive subterranean mineral deposits, the Interior Department remains at the center of an enduring, decades-old debate regarding whether federal land ownership is excessive.Nevada, for instance, is nearly 80% under federal jurisdiction (AP)The majority of public lands lie in Western states, where high levels of government ownership shield territory from development but can also constrain economic growth. Nevada, for instance, is nearly 80% under federal jurisdiction.Under the proposed framework, a share of the revenue from land sales would be returned to purchasers to support environmental conservation elsewhere, Interior officials said. However, it remains unclear whether Interior Secretary Doug Burgum can realize the administration’s objectives without legislative support from Congress.A statement from Zinke’s office noted that he "remains firmly opposed to the sale or transfer of public lands." The statement added that he intends to vote against any related measures should they arise before he departs Congress at the close of this term.The leading Democrat on the Senate Natural Resources Committee likewise promised to resist any attempts to sell off or privatize federal territory."These lands belong to the American people, not private interests looking to cash in. Public lands belong in public hands," said Sen. Martin Heinrich, a New Mexico Democrat.Last year, several Western politicians attempted to divest large swathes of territory in Utah and Nevada, arguing it would raise capital and relieve urban expansion pressures. Among those initiatives, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee proposed transferring over 2 million acres (8,000 square kilometers) to states or other stakeholders.Those proposals ultimately collapsed amid opposition from both parties.Laying out a framework for the Interior Department's operational goals from 2026 to 2030, the strategy document will not bind future presidential administrations.The agency manages grazing, drilling, mining, public recreation, and other land uses that many state and local leaders desire to oversee directly. The department encompasses the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.The strategic plan was previously revised four years ago during the administration of former Democratic President Joe Biden.