Lee Pulls Federal Land Sales From Megabill

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) withdrew his controversial provision to sell public lands for development Saturday night under fierce opposition from fellow Republicans from western states.

Lee decided to back down preemptively while the Senate was taking a procedural vote on their megabill rather than risk the measure failing on the floor. Western Republicans had promised to offer an amendment to strip it out.

Five House Republicans also threatened to vote down the GOP megabill if the Senate included a provision to sell public lands.

In a statement posted to X, Lee blamed “misinformation” and the “strict constraints of the budget reconciliation process” for hampering his effort, but in reality he faced stiff opposition from western Republicans from states with large public land holdings.