The Senate budget reconciliation bill, aka the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' now includes a provision that REQUIRES the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to sell off between 2.2 and 3.3 million acres of public lands to private buyers over the next few years.
https://www.wilderness.org/sites/default/files/media/file/20250616-SENR-selloff-map%20%281%29.pdf
This would mean we lose access to huge parcels of land on which millions of Americans recreate under the guide of housing and energy independence, when in reality most of the land is not suitable for housing and we already have processes for disposing of some land for energy production and logging.
Where I live in Central Oregon, we'd lose 30+ miles of singletrack on USFS land that supports our local economy, not to mention endless miles of forest roads on USFS and BLM land.
If you're an American (and particular someone living under a Republican senator), please call and write to them THIS WEEK to let them know that their job depends on getting this provision removed from the bill or voting it down entirely. The pressure campaign worked on a similar house bill that included a smaller amount of acreage, so your voice does matter.
That's my time on the soap box, thanks for listening!
by a_real_bender
5 Comments
We need to do what we can, but I have a sinking feeling we’re about to lose a LOT of the gravel back roads we enjoy.
what did montana do to stop this?
Legitimately clueless here on the technicalities.
The USFS and BLM, are they federal?
Would states be able to step in here before what we all fear (private development)?
Outdoor Alliance has a great form for quick an easy email contact to your elected officials to let them know how you feel about this. Of course calling is even better but there isn’t anything stopping you from doing both!
https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/6/16/33millionacres-publicland-selloffs-map
>Where I live in Central Oregon, we’d lose 30+ miles of singletrack on USFS land that supports our local economy, not to mention endless miles of forest roads on USFS and BLM land.
How? Do you mean Phil’s complex?
I’m generally opposed to the disposal plan, but it’s open season on the map you posted.
Here is the specific text,
>Secretary concerned shall give priority consideration to the disposal of tracts of Bureau of Land Management land and National Forest System land that, as determined by the Secretary concerned— (A) are nominated by States or units of local governments; (B) are adjacent to existing developed areas; (C) have access to existing infrastructure; (D) are suitable for residential housing; (E) reduce checkerboard land patterns; or (F) are isolated tracts that are inefficient to manage.
Section 0301 starts on page 30: [https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/DF7B7FBE-9866-4B69-8ACA-C661A4F18096](https://www.energy.senate.gov/services/files/DF7B7FBE-9866-4B69-8ACA-C661A4F18096)
Given the text, certainly Tetherow might be an impact for the main trailhead, KGB, etc. But the further towards Bach you go, it’s safe.