Not for Sale: Standing Against Federal Overreach on Our Lands
Not for Sale: Standing Against Federal Overreach on Our Lands
By Eric Barlow, State Senator, District 23 and former Speaker of the House.
In recent days, I’ve heard from a remarkable number of people across Wyoming about a proposal in the U.S. Senate to sell off federal public lands. I hear your concerns—and I share them.
What’s notable is what I haven’t heard. No one—from the people in my district to local governments to outdoor recreation advocates to land-use organizations—is calling for this kind of federal action. Simply put, this proposal does not reflect the needs or values of the people of Wyoming.
Public land is not just scenery—it’s our heritage, our livelihood, and our shared responsibility. From the open range to the high country, we take pride in stewarding these lands and developing their resources responsibly. These federal lands belong to all Americans, and Congress has a duty to care for them in a manner that supports multiple uses and the public good—not to put them up for sale without input from the communities that depend on them.
The current proposal appears to be the proverbial “camel’s nose under the tent.” It opens the door to a top-down, quota-driven approach to land sales that prioritizes numbers over people and bypasses the safeguards that protect our local voice. Wyoming doesn’t need a sweeping, one-size-fits-all federal plan. We need practical, community-led solutions grounded in local knowledge and respect for our treasured heritage..
Before moving forward, Congress should take the time to fully understand the impact on states like Wyoming and make sure they get it right. There is already a legal and functioning process in place to purchase or exchange federal land when there is a clear need. We’ve used, and are currently using this process in Wyoming—successfully—including in my district, and it can serve as a guide for future cases. Is the process perfect? No. It could be improved, and those improvements should be part of the conversation, especially during confirmation hearings for nominees to federal land management agencies.
But moving forward with legislation that encourages broad land sales—without thoughtful review, clear criteria, or local input—is a mistake.
Any policy involving public land must be carefully crafted with respect for the people who live closest to those lands. Each of our counties has its own land use plans, developed with public input and tailored to its unique needs. Any federal action that ignores them is shortsighted and harmful.
It’s worth noting that this issue isn’t just coming from Washington. Earlier this year, the Wyoming Senate considered a resolution calling for the federal government to turn all public lands over to the states. That resolution failed—and rightly so. It lacked clear guidelines for land management, oversight, and public accountability. I voted against it then, and I would vote against it again.
Our state has always valued collaboration over command-and-control. We know how to work through tough issues with transparency and local leadership. The current proposal, however, doesn’t reflect that spirit. It undermines thoughtful, locally driven land management in favor of a rushed and ill-advised federal directive.
If Congress is serious about improving land management, the solution isn’t selling off public lands—it’s engaging with local communities, streamlining existing processes, and strengthening partnerships on the ground. That’s how we protect access, preserve use, and ensure the land remains a benefit to all, not just to the highest bidder.
Some folks are fond of using Wyoming’s Code of the West, and one comes to mind now… “some things aren’t for sale.” Wyoming’s federal public lands should be one of them.
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