Reported Proposal to Sell Public Lands to Offset Federal Spending
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Some Republican lawmakers are reportedly weighing the sale of federally owned public lands to help pay for a sweeping budget reconciliation package. U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has promoted the idea, saying public lands could improve “America’s balance sheet.”
Following is a reaction from Bobby McEnaney, Director of Land Conservation at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“Republicans are moving to sell off our public lands to finance their tax cuts for billionaires. This is reckless and wrong. America’s public lands should never be used as a budget gimmick. These lands offer millions of Americans places to hike, hunt, fish, and reconnect with nature, and provide clean water, protect wildlife.”
“The Trump administration may see these places as numbers on a spreadsheet, but most Americans see them as part of who we are. Once we lose public lands to developers, you can’t get it back once it’s gone.”
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).