LWVUS Sends Letter to House Opposing Sale of Federal Lands

LWVUS urged the House to prioritize maintaining federal ownership of federal public lands

May 9, 2025

To: Members of the US House

Re: Oppose the sale and transfer of federal public lands 

Dear Members of Congress;

On behalf of the League of Women Voters of the United States (the League), we urge you to prioritize maintaining federal ownership of federal public lands. The Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, H. Con. Res.14, would do the opposite. It is critical that Congress remove the Natural Resources section of this bill, which, among many other detrimental environmental provisions, would allow for the development of untouched, natural lands by the oil and gas industry without improving energy costs or energy independence.

The League is a 105-year-old nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization whose mission is to ensure that everyone is represented in our democracy. We are a grassroots organization comprised of over one million members and supporters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands, with more than 750 local and state Leagues. The League uses advocacy, education, litigation, and organizing to achieve our mission to empower voters and defend democracy. We base our work on our policy positions developed through consensus by League membership to ensure our advocacy reflects best practices and a nationwide perspective.

This reconciliation proposal by Congress would give oil companies the right to dictate the fate of millions of acres of US federal lands. These lands belong to the American people, who should maintain the right to determine how those lands are used in the public interest. Outdoor recreation areas, nature reserves, and pristine American lands would become industrial sites. In addition to the destruction of natural areas, this would pollute our lands and put many Americans at higher risk of pollution-related health issues. 

The League of Women Voters of the United States is opposed to the selling of federal public lands, namely those held by Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the US Department of the Interior; and the US Forest Service in the US Department of Agriculture. From our democratically developed policy positions:

The League believes that federal public lands should benefit all Americans. The lands should remain under the jurisdiction of the federal government with Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands managed according to the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield policy. We support improvements in management and regulation.

Our public lands in the west are an essential part of who we are as Americans. They are the places where generations of families have hunted, hiked, and learned about our history. They are places all of us, visitors and locals alike, can access regardless of the size of our wallets. And most importantly, our public lands are major drivers of our economy. These lands have been designated by presidents or Congress since the beginning of the 19th century. 

The Conservation in the West Poll surveys voters in the Rocky Mountain states about their attitudes on natural resources topics. In the 2024 Conservation on the West Poll:

• More than two-thirds (65%) of those in western states oppose giving states control of federal public lands.
• Only 14% think selling national public lands for housing is the best approach.
• 71% oppose the removal of protections on some areas of existing national public lands.
• 88% of westerners have visited national public lands in the past year.

In the rare cases that the transfer of federal public lands is in the public interest, a comprehensive assessment should include, but is not limited to, consideration of the environmental impacts, health impacts, suitability of proposed land use, financial and economic impacts, management for fire and other natural disasters, and consultation with tribal governments.

We ask that Congress cease consideration of the transfer of federal public lands for any purpose.

Sincerely,

Jessica Jones Capparell 
Director, Government Affairs
League of Women Voters of the US