1. United States
2. Neb.
3. Letter

The proposed sell-off of millions of acres of public lands across 11 western states is an egregious and irreversible assault on America's public lands. This short-sighted scheme prioritizes private profits over public interest, threatening public access, responsible land management, environmental values, cultural resources, and endangered species. It betrays the trust of the American people, who overwhelmingly reject attempts to liquidate their shared natural legacy. Public lands are not a commodity to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Once sold, these treasured landscapes will be fenced off and lost to the public forever. There is no requirement that any resulting development meet affordable housing needs, rendering the purported justification disingenuous. This proposal serves only the interests of real estate speculators and private equity firms, not the greater good. The undemocratic process of forcing this through budget reconciliation, bypassing public input and environmental review, is an affront to principled governance. Americans have time and again voiced their opposition to selling off public lands. This attempt to defy the will of the people must be rejected to uphold our nation's commitment to public lands access and conservation for future generations.