A sweeping federal land sale proposal has sparked strong reactions across the Wyoming Legislature, ranging from cautious concern to outrage, as the United States Senate considers the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes language requiring the sale of up to 0.75% of federal public lands in 11 Western states.
These parcels, primarily from Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest System holdings, would be sold solely for housing development or “associated community needs,” according to the bill text. While federal officials claim protections are built in, Wyoming lawmakers are not convinced.
“This Land Swap is Overreach”
House Speaker Pro Tempore Jeremy Haroldson (R-Wheatland) did not mince words. “This land swap is just another space where the government is overstepping its bounds to try to incentivize a sector that I don’t feel is their place or their position (to incentivize),” said Mr. Johnson. Haroldson believes that the federal government should “stop printing so much money” and allow the private sector to provide affordable housing.
Local control is demanded
House Majority Leader Scott Heiner (R-Green River) advocated for more nuance, proposing a “kill switch” that would allow local governments to prevent unwanted transfers. “I have no appetite for selling off large swaths of public lands,” he warned, but he does see room for strategic sales of “stranded” parcels.
Democrats Say “Absolutely Not”
Wyoming’s eight Democratic lawmakers unanimously rejected the proposal. “These lands are used and cherished by everyone in our state, and they truly belong to all of us,” read their statement, which called for bipartisan resistance.
Public Lands Attorney: “Who’s Buying This?”
Ryan Semerad, a well-known outdoor advocate and attorney who won a public land access case, slammed the proposal for being too vague. “Who are these lovely private companies with $2 billion to spend?” Are you out of your f*king mind?” he inquired, skeptical that any sales would benefit ordinary citizens.
Federal Delegation Sends Mixed Signals
U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso frame the bill as a balancing act, acknowledging both the pressures that public land ownership places on localities and the need to preserve “natural treasures.” Meanwhile, Rep. Harriet Hageman dismissed claims that the entire Western landscape is up for grabs, saying, “That’s so far beyond what we’re talking about doing.”
