Public Lands Face New State Takeover Attempts

Photo credit: Alex Moliski

In January, the Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit filed by the state of Utah that demanded state control over 18.5 million acres of federal public land. And this week, the Wyoming state senate passed a resolution demanding that public lands and waters, including Grand Teton National Park, be turned over to the state government.

These are two of the latest efforts to take over and dispose of America’s public lands, a direct threat to the legacy of outdoor access in the West and to the outdoor recreation economy, which generates more than $1.2 trillion in economic activity and supports 5 million American jobs.

Even as these unpopular proposals often meet rejection, they are an ominous portent of more land seizure efforts to come.

State-level attempts to take over public lands, though widely unpopular, date back decades, starting with the Sagebrush Rebellion of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when some Western states, fueled by anti-federal sentiment, sought to transfer public lands to state control. The movement aimed to open public lands for increased resource extraction. Though the “rebellion” itself waned, its ideology resurfaced in later movements, including the Bundy standoff at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge and a host of state-level bills in the 2010s that demanded public lands be turned over to state governments.

Public lands belong to all Americans. They offer stunning opportunities for climbing, paddling, hiking, skiing, biking, and camping—open to everyone. Americans have long worked together to care for these places, ensuring they remain accessible and well-managed for future generations. We also have important rights on public lands, including the right to access them, participate in their management, and advocate for their long-term protection. While states play a key role in managing natural resources, large-scale transfers of federal lands could create financial challenges for state governments, which must balance their budgets and often rely on revenue from extractive industries or land sales. Managing vast public lands is expensive, and history has shown that when states face budget shortfalls, public access and conservation can be at risk. Keeping public lands in public hands ensures they remain accessible, protected, and managed for all Americans, now and in the future.

Public lands and waters have long been stewarded by Indigenous communities, many of which were forcibly displaced when these lands were brought under federal control. Any discussion about the future of public lands should recognize their deep history, including the stewardship of Indigenous communities and the need to ensure tribal governments have a meaningful role in their management and protection. 

Given that this Congress began by reintroducing public land takeover rhetoric into the House rules, it’s safe to say that we are likely to see more attempts to dispose of public lands and waters in the coming years. 

These efforts pose a clear threat to the integrity of public lands and the outdoor recreation opportunities they support, as well as to the millions of Americans who recreate on public lands each year and the growing outdoor recreation economy they support. State-controlled lands are often sold off when budgets are tight, jeopardizing public access and conservation. Since 2014, Outdoor Alliance has worked to advocate for keeping public lands public, ensuring these shared spaces remain accessible, protected, and well-managed for recreation and future generations.

Public lands are more than just beautiful places—they’re a cornerstone of the outdoor recreation economy, which the Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated to be worth $1.2 trillion in 2023, more than 1.5 times the size of oil and gas development and mining (source). Every dollar invested in outdoor recreation infrastructure generates a $14 return, making public lands one of the most reliable drivers of economic growth in the country (source). While public lands support a range of uses, from energy development to grazing, maintaining access for recreation and conservation is critical for sustaining local economies and communities. Short-sighted land sales or poorly planned development risk undermining the long-term economic benefits that outdoor recreation provides. Protecting public lands is about ensuring a balanced approach—one that preserves access, sustains jobs, and reflects the shared responsibility Americans have for these treasured places.

Recently, Congressman Zinke (MT-1) and Congressman Vasquez (NM-2) introduced the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act, which would reaffirm the requirement for congressional approval of large scale transfer or disposal of public lands and waters.  The bill helps to protect the public lands and waters for all their benefits to Americans, including for outdoor recreation.  

Legislation like this serves as an important statement of bipartisan support for public lands, pushing back against proposals that could undermine outdoor recreation, conservation, and public access. It reinforces the broad commitment to keeping public lands protected now and for future generations.