New Mexico Wild Sounds Alarm on Dangerous Public Lands Sell-Off Plan in Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Allison, Executive Director, mark@nmwild.org, 505-239-0906
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (April 3, 2025) — New Mexico Wild strongly condemns reports that Republican leaders in Congress are considering the sale of public lands as part of their budget reconciliation package to fund billionaire tax cuts and other domestic policy priorities.
According to reporting by POLITICO’s E&E News, House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman and other Republican leaders are discussing selling federal lands around Western cities and national parks, supposedly for affordable housing. The plans are being considered as Republicans seek revenue sources for their upcoming budget reconciliation process.
“Public lands belong to the American people. These are the places we hunt, fish, hike and commemorate our history and culture in New Mexico. Selling them off cannot be an option in the budget process, full stop,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild.
The proposal comes at a time when public lands are already under unprecedented pressure. The current administration has terminated thousands of staff at land management agencies while simultaneously rolling back bedrock environmental protections. This proposed land sell-off represents a dangerous escalation in what appears to be a coordinated attack on America’s public lands legacy.
Despite claims about addressing housing needs, the “affordable housing” justification lacks credibility. Senator Mike Lee’s “HOUSES Act” — one of the proposals under consideration — doesn’t mention affordability once, revealing the true intent: transferring public assets to private developers and wealthy interests.
For New Mexicans, this threat strikes at the heart of our state’s identity and economy. Our public lands support a thriving outdoor recreation industry and provide essential ecosystem services including clean water, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. These lands also safeguard irreplaceable cultural resources and enable traditional practices that have sustained communities for generations. Once privatized, these public benefits would be lost forever.
New Mexico Wild calls on New Mexico’s congressional delegation to publicly reject any proposal to sell public lands through the reconciliation process. We also urge all New Mexicans to contact their elected officials immediately to oppose this unprecedented threat to our shared natural heritage.
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