NEW: Republican Study Committee Endorses Public Land Selloff Under “Federal Properties” Guise
Donald Trump and Doug Burgum’s Allies Target “Federal Properties” in Thinly-Veiled Public Land Selloff Scheme
HELENA, MT – This week, the Republican Study Committee, a House caucus that includes almost two hundred members, released a framework for selling off America’s national parks and public lands. In an outline for new budget legislation they’d like to pass in 2026, the RSC proposed directing “relevant federal agencies to sell off or lease at a low rate underused and/or underutilized federal properties.” This language closely mirrors a previous proposal from Utah Senator Mike Lee, whose own public land selloff legislation was so unpopular, he was forced to withdraw it.
The least transparent Interior Secretary in history, Doug Burgum, has already hired several anti-public land cronies, including conflicted Karen Budd-Falen, and is pushing for the Senate to confirm Trump’s Bureau of Land Management nominee “Selloff Steve” Pearce. The vast majority of Americans are strongly opposed to selling our parks and public lands.
In response to House Republicans’ thinly-veiled attempt to sell off our public lands to the highest bidder, Save Our Parks spokesperson Jayson O’Neill issued the following statement:
“House Republicans have resurrected zealot Mike Lee’s failed idea to have a public lands liquidation sale. Playing cute and leaving the back door open by using the phrase ‘federal properties’ isn’t fooling anyone. The RSC is intentionally using ‘properties,’ which by definition includes land, so that Doug Burgum can sell off our lands and national heritage to his and Trump’s billionaire developer pals and extractive special interests.
“Putting our public lands on the chopping block was a core tenet of the Trump-Burgum Project 2025 agenda, and has always been a part of Burgum’s fail-by-design plan. Burgum has advocated that our parks and public lands are America’s ‘balance sheet’ to be sold off to special interests, just like Trump’s BLM nominee ‘Selloff Steve’ Pearce. The American people, including hunters and anglers, certainly don’t see it that way and they’ll fight this tooth and nail.”
To speak with Save Our Parks spokesperson Jayson O’Neill, email jayson@focalpointstrategygroup.com.
Additional Background:
Doug Burgum says public lands are America’s “balance sheet” — he’s right, but for the wrong reasons
With Public Lands Under Threat, Voters Want to See Them Protected and Budgets Kept Intact
Where National Parks And Public Lands Stand Now, As Trump Administration Prepares To Privatize
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