HELENA, MT – Public land advocates tallied a win in the Montana Statehouse this session, but an amendment to Trump’s Tax Bill and approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources, the full House and is now before the Senate, adds a new challenge.
Montana lawmakers this session voted down a bill supporting the transfer of federal public lands to states. But a similar conversation is growing on the national stage.
Last year, Utah sued the United States, claiming the state is deprived of “sovereign powers” because the federal government owns public lands there. Montana Republican Representative Tom Millett of Marion brought a resolution to fellow lawmakers in support of Utah. It failed 66 to 34, and received no public comments in support, but Alex Blackmer with Wild Montana says it points to a larger trend.
In Congress, the House Committee on Natural Resources has passed a Republican budget package including an amendment to authorize the sale of thousands of acres of public land in Nevada and Utah. Committee Chair Republican Bruce Westerman of Arkansas says the package would, in his words, “save billions and deliver American energy dominance.”
Top committee Democrat Jared Huffman of California calls it “breathtakingly reckless.”
Former U.S. Department of Interior Secretary, Montana Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke, and more than a dozen other lawmakers launched a bipartisan Congressional Public Lands Caucus this month. Both Democrats and Republicans are working together to protect public lands, expand access to them, and promote economic and recreational opportunities related to public lands.
Blackmer notes Zinke has been “pretty outspoken” in support of public lands
Zinke served as U.S. Interior Secretary during the first Trump administration, before stepping down amid allegations of misconduct.
The Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus is a group of U.S. House members, both Democrats and Republicans, who are working together to protect public lands, expand access to them, and promote economic and recreational opportunities related to public lands. The caucus was launched in May 2025 by Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT). This includes opposing any actions that could lead to the sale or transfer of public lands to private entities.
At a news conference launching the caucus, Zinke said land sales should not be in the federal reconciliation bill.
