Washington, D.C. — A heated divide emerged among Republicans today over a controversial proposal to sell more than 3,200 square miles of federal land to private entities and state governments. Senators from Montana and Idaho condemned the plan, citing dangers to conservation and local control, while backers say the sale will unlock development and raise billions.
Utah’s senator behind the proposal defended it as a commonsense solution to reduce federal land management and promote state-level autonomy. “We’re unleashing local economies and fighting federal overreach,” he told reporters. But GOP critics argued that the maneuver may bypass Senate rules and is being rushed through as part of the reconciliation process .
The clash exposed a rift between small-government purists and conservation-minded Republicans. While both sides support less federal control, the dispute has given Democrats a rare opportunity to frame the GOP as fractured—potentially hampering unity ahead of upcoming budget votes.
