AFS Urges Congress to Reconsider Federal Land Sales

The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House
H-232, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
House Democratic Leader
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

May 16, 2025

Re: Concerns with Federal Land Sales in Reconciliation

Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries,

On behalf of America’s millions of hunters, anglers, wildlife professionals, conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts, we write to express our concern regarding the inclusion of federal land sales in the reconciliation package recently passed by the House Natural Resources Committee. While we appreciate the committee’s desire to address land management efficiency and community economic needs, we ask that public land disposal be considered within transparent, public channels and not the reconciliation process.

Our concerns are threefold. First, the amendment accelerates the land conveyance process under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) by imposing strict timelines and reducing public input, notably through exemptions from standard notice of realty action requirements for affordable housing conveyances. These changes limit opportunities for hunters, anglers, recreationists and other stakeholders to engage in decisions affecting lands that belong to all Americans. Public participation is a cornerstone of FLPMA, ensuring transparency and accountability, and we fear that curtailing it sets a troubling precedent for future land management decisions, and land sales would be made that do not serve the public interest.

Second, the bill directs proceeds from these sales to the general fund of the Treasury, rather than reinvesting them in conservation programs that sustain our nation’s wildlife, habitats and recreational opportunities. Federal lands have historically been a public trust investment, not a resource for general budgetary offsets, and the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA) was permanently reauthorized in 2018 to collect receipts from appropriate BLM land sales and reinvest those dollars into projects that expand access and conserve habitat. Diverting sale proceeds away from conservation deviates from the deal struck by a broad spectrum of interests, and it could lower the ecological and recreational value of our public lands.

Third, and perhaps most critically, the proposed sales could include lands that are vital to hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation, particularly in rural areas. Hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking are deeply ingrained in our cultural heritage and local economies. The loss of access to these areas could impact hunters, anglers, and other recreationists who rely on public lands for their traditions and livelihoods. Considerations about any such sales should go through a transparent public process and only proceed if they serve the public interest. Losses of access and hunting and angling opportunities should be mitigated through new acquisitions funded through the FLTFA account.

We recognize the need for efficient management and community economic development, but reconciliation legislation is not an appropriate place for land sales, and we urge you to reconsider these provisions in the House bill.

Thank you for your leadership and consideration. We stand ready to work with you to ensure that our public lands continue to serve as a legacy for all Americans.

Sincerely,