Interior Plans to Sell Public Lands to States
A five-year plan from the Interior Department proposes land transfers and exchanges to support energy production and shrink the federal estate.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in National Parks
Live Poll
Should the federal government sell public lands to states and local governments?
The Interior Department has presented a five-year plan for 2026 to 2030 that would sell public lands to states, tribes, and local governments. The plan aims to decrease the size of the federal estate, which the department oversees across more than 750,000 square miles.
Why it matters
Most public lands sit in Western states, so any transfers would reshape land use there in the years ahead. The plan does not bind future administrations, and it is uncertain whether Interior Secretary Doug Burgum can reach its goals without cooperation from Congress.
The Interior Department oversees more than 750,000 square miles, a land area greater than Texas and California combined, according to the plan. Sen. Mike Lee of Utah has proposed selling more than 2 million acres, though the plan's final land-sale scope remains undetermined.
The players
Interior Department
The federal department responsible for managing public lands, mineral resources, and national parks across the United States.
Doug Burgum
The Interior Secretary in the Trump administration, who must work with Congress to advance the plan's land-transfer goals.
Mike Lee
A Utah Republican senator who has publicly proposed selling more than 2 million acres of federal land to states or other entities.
The details
Agency officials said land sales would let the government focus resources on nationally significant lands, and a portion of sale proceeds would go back to the buyer for conservation purposes elsewhere. The administration views most public lands as assets to be used rather than set aside for preservation, and the Interior Department regulates mining, drilling, grazing, and recreation.
Timeline
Last year, conservative lawmakers sought to sell land in Utah and Nevada, but the effort failed after bipartisan opposition.
The five-year plan sets priorities and actions for the Interior Department from 2026 through 2030.
The department's strategic plan was last updated four years ago under President Joe Biden.
Travel Outlook
The plan revives the land-sale push that failed last year in Utah and Nevada after bipartisan opposition, now proposed at the federal scale. For travelers, changes in who manages public land could affect access to the Western landscapes where most of these lands are located.
Travelers planning trips to Western public lands should watch for any transfers that could change access, fees, or management rules. The plan does not bind future administrations, so current recreation arrangements remain in place for now.
The takeaway
Federal land policy can shift well after a plan is announced, so readers should track congressional action rather than assume the proposal is settled. Even a non-binding plan signals where a future administration may push next.
Further reading
Explore more on National Parks to understand how federal land management shapes visitor access.
Live Poll
Should the federal government sell public lands to states and local governments?
