In a major development for public land advocates, the Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, has ruled that a proposal to sell off federal land cannot be included in the GOP-backed budget reconciliation package.
The decision effectively blocked Senator Mike Lee’s plan to privatize up to 3 million acres of public land as part of the party’s housing initiative, for now.
The ruling was first reported Monday. It confirms what conservation groups and legal experts had warned: that the proposed land sales fall outside the strict rules governing what can be included in a reconciliation bill.
Under Senate procedure, reconciliation measures must be directly tied to federal budgetary impacts. The parliamentarian found that selling off large tracts of public land doesn’t meet that threshold.
Byrd Rule Strikes Down Land Sale Provision
Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) confirmed the parliamentarian’s decision on Monday. “Those provisions did not make it through the Byrd Rule process,” he said, referring to both the public land sale and a separate offshore drilling plan.
The Byrd Rule restricts what can be included in reconciliation bills. Provisions must have a direct and substantial budgetary impact. Selling off federal land, according to the parliamentarian, doesn’t meet that standard.
Public Land Off the Table, for Now: Mike Lee Rewriting Proposal
Senator Lee’s original proposal would have authorized the sale of millions of acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management. After intense criticism from the hunting and outdoor community, Lee proposed amending the language on X, to exclude Forest Service land and limit sales to BLM parcels within 5 miles of towns.
According to Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, they’ve confirmed with Mike Lee’s office that he is currently rewriting his proposal to try again.
Energy Provisions Blocked as Well
The ruling also blocked another key GOP priority: expanding offshore oil and gas leasing. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) acknowledged the decision but said Republicans are not backing off entirely. “Conversations continue,” she told reporters.
Lawmakers may now look for alternative legislation to revive both the energy and land provisions. No new strategy has been announced.
Land Advocates Stay Vigilant
While the ruling removes the land sales from the current budget bill, it does not prevent Congress from revisiting the issue. Conservation groups and public land advocates have said this fight is far from over.
For now, the 3 million acres in question remain public. But with continued pressure from privatization advocates, land users across the West are keeping a close eye on what comes next.
Read the full article here