Senate GOP Proposal Threatens Millions of Acres of Public Land, Eyeing Sabino Canyon for Sale

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has introduced a controversial proposal to sell millions of acres of public lands, impacting sites like Sabino Canyon and Mount Lemmon. This initiative is part of the reconciliation spending bill currently under consideration.

According to the proposal, the Senate aims for the “mandatory disposal of Bureau of Land Management land and National Forest System land for housing and community needs.” It suggests that between 0.5 and 0.75 percent of these lands could be auctioned off, with new listings every 60 days post-enactment. Nearly 250 million acres of public land are eligible, excluding areas in Montana, where Rep. Ryan Zinke has consistently opposed such measures.

The cited lands, including Mount Lemmon, Madera Canyon, Mount Graham, and the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, would not be protected from sale, unlike national parks, monuments, and designated wilderness areas. Senator Mike Lee, the Republican Chairman of the ENR Committee, argues that the bill targets isolated parcels that are “difficult to manage” and better suited for housing and infrastructure developments.

In stark contrast, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly criticized the bill, labeling it as “reckless.” He stated, “I oppose any effort to force the sale of Forest Service land in Arizona. These public lands are part of who we are. Selling them off for tax giveaways to billionaires is wrong and irreversible.”

His Democratic colleague, Senator Ruben Gallego, expressed concerns via Twitter, noting that while he previously suggested utilizing federal lands for affordable housing, the current proposal lacks protections for affordability and arbitrarily mandates land sales.

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani has not publicly commented on the bill. Notably, the House version of the reconciliation bill, passed in late May, did not propose any public land disposals. As the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” moves forward, it requires Senate approval, with any amendments needing another House vote. Currently, Republicans hold a slim majority in both chambers.

Environmental advocacy groups, including The Wilderness Society, are rallying against the Senate bill. Michael Carroll, the group’s director of the BLM campaign, stated, “Most Americans agree on the importance of keeping public lands in public hands.” He urged lawmakers to reject any proposals for public land sales.

The House and Senate must finalize a spending plan before September 30 to prevent a government shutdown.