JACKSON, Wyo. — In spite of Utah Senator Mike Lee scaling back the amount of federal land available for sale in the proposed Senate budget reconciliation bill, Wyoming businesses remain committed to preserving all of its public lands.
This past week, a group of Wyoming businesses submitted a letter to Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis asking them to oppose the disposal of public lands, a provision that was included in the proposed U.S. Senate budget reconciliation package. Since Tuesday, the number of businesses who signed the letter grew from 85 to 115. The 115 signers include businesses from a variety of sectors, including hunting and fishing outfitters, loggers, motorized sports, taxidermists, real estate agents, dude ranches, tradesmen and outdoor equipment retailers and manufacturers.
In the letter, 27 Jackson Hole businesses stressed their opposition to “any sale or transfer of public lands in Wyoming.” The businesses wrote that “Wyoming’s outdoor culture is under threat by a concerted movement to transfer or sell federal public lands throughout the West.”
On June 24, Lee revised his initial plan in President Trump’s H.R.1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act, after the Senate’s parliamentarian ruled that the public lands provision could not move forward as part of a Republican policy bill. The Byrd Rule prevents the inclusion of provisions that are extraneous to the budget in a reconciliation bill.
Lee’s original provision called for the sale of approximately 2.2 million to 3.3 million acres of federal land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service to incentivize housing and mineral development. In his revised version, forest service land is no longer on the table, but BLM land within five miles of a populated area — approximately 1.2 million acres — could still be sold off to a private buyer, per the bill. The budget reconciliation bill prioritizes land sales to generate revenue for tax cuts.
In a recent post on X, Lee stated, “Housing prices are crushing families and keeping young Americans from living where they grew up. We need to change that.”
Rendezvous River Sports Owner, kayaker and conservationist Aaron Pruzan told Buckrail that the sell-off of public lands is a shortsighted plan that disrespects America’s heritage.
“While there are some parcels that could benefit from local control, that would take a detailed and thoughtful analysis, which is something that the current administration and current Congress have not demonstrated is in their capacity,” Pruzan said. “Selling off public lands will result in loss of wildlife habitat, access, clean air and water protections and diminish what the U.S. stands for. The Lee Amendment needs to go in the recycle bin.”
Pruzan also expressed his skepticism that affordable housing will actually be constructed on public land, if sold.
“While the proponents say its only one percent and they will build affordable housing, that one percent represents many amazing places,” Pruzan said. “There is a very thin assurance that anything affordable will be created.”
Orvis told Buckrail that it is standing by its “customers, conservation partners and millions of people across the U.S.” in opposing the proposed legislation. Teton Mountaineering Manager Mike Keating also shared with Buckrail that the sale of any amount of public land could create a “very dangerous precedent.” Additionally, Kim Havell, co-owner of Pendergraft Outfitters in Wilson, shared with Buckrail her concerns with the federal government targeting BLM lands, and potentially rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule.
“This relentless push to sell our public lands will cause irreversible damage to our landscape, wildlife and recreation areas,” Havell said.
In the letter, numerous Wyoming businesses stated that access to public lands plays a significant role in Wyoming’s economy.
“Wyoming is a world-class destination, and public lands contribute the bulk of the tourism-based economy,” the letter reads. “Our businesses represent numerous sectors that bring billions of dollars into the state each year, employ tens of thousands of Wyomingites, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual state and local tax revenue.”
The letter emphasized that the “Code of the West” states, “some things are not for sale.”
This past Tuesday, Jackson community members also showed up in force to protest the public lands provision on Town Square. Anna Ciell, a local hunter and outdoorswoman who organized the event, told Buckrail that she wants a future where her children can recreate on public lands.
“Even though Senator Lee has updated the provision to only include BLM land, it is still concerning,” Ciell said. “No amount of public land should be sold into private hands. Not one acre.”
