House Advances Midnight Amendment to Sell Public Lands in Nevada and Utah

In a late-night move on Tuesday, the House Natural Resources Committee approved a controversial amendment to sell vast swaths of federal public lands in Nevada and Utah. Tucked into a sprawling budget reconciliation package, the amendment, which was spearheaded by Reps. Mark Amodei (R-Nevada) and Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), has sparked outrage among conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, and many others who warn it threatens the future of America’s public lands.

The midnight maneuver was introduced around 11:30 p.m. during an exhausting committee session, a timing critics say was designed to evade public scrutiny. With little debate, the Republican-majority committee greenlit the measure, rejecting nearly 140 Democratic amendments aimed at protecting public lands and environmental safeguards. Rep. Joe Neguse (Colorado) decried the process, stating, “This was a deliberate attempt to ram through a land grab under cover of darkness.”

The amendment authorizes the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to sell federal lands, primarily in Nevada and Utah, with estimates of the affected acreage ranging from 11,000 to as much as 350,000 acres. The vague language in the proposal has fueled uncertainty, making it difficult to pinpoint the full scope of the sales. Unlike standard BLM land disposal processes, which reinvest proceeds into conservation under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA), this amendment funnels revenue directly to the U.S. Treasury, raising concerns about lost opportunities to protect critical habitats.

On one side, proponents argue that sales are a practical solution to pressing issues in the West. Rep. Amodei emphasized that federal ownership, which covers roughly 80% of Nevada, stifles housing development in growing communities like Reno and Las Vegas.

“We’re not talking about pristine wilderness here,” Amodei said. “These are parcels near urban areas that can support housing and economic growth.” 

Rep. Maloy echoed this, citing Utah’s booming population and the need for developable land.

Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-Arkansas) framed the amendment as “community-driven,” projecting it could potentially generate billions in significant revenue for federal and state coffers. Supporters also point to precedent, noting the BLM has long sold small parcels for development, with larger sales requiring only congressional non-disapproval within 90 days.

On the other side, conservation groups and outdoor advocates are sounding the alarm. Organizations like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, The Wilderness Society, and Trout Unlimited warn that the amendment sets a dangerous precedent for dismantling America’s 640 million acres of federal public lands. 

“This was a very dark night for the American people,” said Chase Huntley, vice president of federal policy at The Wilderness Society in a statement. “The House Natural Resources Committee just approved a budget reconciliation bill that will dramatically expand drilling and sell off public lands to fund tax cuts for the richest people in the country. It also dramatically expands mining and logging, strips protections for iconic places, and crushes NEPA, a bedrock environmental law.”

Critics highlight the ecological stakes. Public lands in Nevada and Utah support endangered species like the desert tortoise, provide migration corridors for mule deer, and supply clean water for agriculture and urban areas. A February 2025 Colorado College poll found 72% of Westerners prioritize conserving public lands over development, underscoring broad public opposition to the sales.

The land-sale amendment is just one piece of a sweeping budget reconciliation bill that critics say undermines decades of environmental protections. The package expands mineral and energy leasing, greenlights a controversial mine near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, and slashes funding for land-management agencies like the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. It also promotes logging and coal mining while limiting legal challenges to development on public lands.

Because the bill is part of the budget reconciliation process, it faces a lower hurdle in the Senate, requiring only 51 votes to pass. 

As of right now, the amendment awaits a full House vote, followed by Senate reconciliation and a presidential signature. While the Senate previously rejected an amendment to block similar land sales for deficit reduction, the outcome remains uncertain. Conservation groups are rallying supporters to pressure lawmakers, emphasizing the irreversible consequences of losing public lands.