Sen. Lee scales back public lands sell-off

Sen. Mike Lee's latest proposal aims to sell a limited range of federal land, potentially auctioning off between 222,500 and 445,000 acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The revised plan excludes land managed by the U. S. Forest Service and stipulates that sold land must support housing or infrastructure.

Opposition to the land sell-off remains intense, with organizations like the Wilderness Society voicing concerns over the vague definition of "housing," which could lead to undesirable developments. Public backlash is evident, as nearly 12,000 Idaho residents have contacted their congressional representatives to express their disapproval of Lee's initiative. Local Republican senators, including Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, have also publicly opposed the proposal. Lee argues that the U. S.

government owns vast tracts of underutilized land that could help address housing shortages in western states. The Secretary of the Interior will allocate 10% of the proceeds from these sales to improve recreational amenities on BLM land. The ongoing debate highlights tensions between conservation efforts and the pressing demand for housing.