A provision allowing the sale of some 450,000 acres of public lands in Utah and Nevada was removed from President Trump’s "big, beautiful" tax package late Wednesday — and Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke led the effort.
The congressman from Whitefish has become increasingly vocal since the provision was introduced in early May, setting a red line and forming the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus.
“This was my San Juan Hill; I do not support the widespread sale or transfer of public lands,” Zinke said in a press release. “Once land is sold, we will never get it back. God isn’t creating more land.”
The provision was introduced May 6 in the House Natural Resources Committee. It targeted certain areas in Nevada and Utah that could be sold or transferred, with some acreage targeted for development and affordable housing.
Zinke said that due to his negotiations with members of Congress, he was able to have the provision removed while getting support from other Intermountain West representatives, including Montana's Troy Downing and Mike Simpson of Idaho.
Late Wednesday, the House Rules Committee removed the provision.
Montana’s delegation has been uniquely opposed to its Republican colleagues on selling public lands to pay for Trump’s tax cuts and reduce the national deficit.
In the Senate, Montana Sens. Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines were the only two Republicans to join Democrats on a failed amendment that would have prevented the sale of public lands.
And in the House, Zinke and Downing recently launched the Public Lands Caucus, which seeks across-the-aisle conversations on land use. Zinke also previously supported HR718, which sought to ban the transfer of public lands to “non-federal” entities.
“I have told leadership before, I have told leadership since,” he said previously. “I strongly don’t believe (land sales) should be in the reconciliation bill.”
On Thursday morning, Center for Western Priorities released a statement from Deputy Director Aaron Weiss lauding Zinke's efforts.
“Clearly, selling off public lands is still a third rail for members of Congress on both sides of the aisle," Weiss wrote. "While there is a housing affordability crisis in the West, looking to our public lands to solve the problem is disingenuous and will only hurt Westerners by increasing sprawl and cutting off access to the trails and public lands we all love.
“I’m grateful to our champions on both sides of the aisle, especially Representative Ryan Zinke, who fought against this misguided attack on our public lands."
In his press release, Zinke thanked House Speaker Mike Johnson and reiterated his otherwise full endorsement of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Several leaders in the outdoor space, including Chris Wood, the CEO of Trout Unlimited, Jessica Turner, President of Outdoor Recreation Roundtable and Ryan Callaghan, Director of Conservation at MeatEater, thanked Zinke.
“The congressman is showing the type of leadership we need right now,” Callaghan said. “Huge thank you from all of us public landowners.”
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