Keep Public Land Public

America's public land is in danger!

Utah is at the heart of a decades-long, well-funded campaign to take public lands—owned by all Americans—and transfer them to state control. If successful, this strategy could become a model for other states to follow.

Recently, Utah filed a lawsuit based on dubious legal theories, backed by a taxpayer-funded PR campaign called “Stand for Our Land – Let Utah Manage Utah Land.” This campaign spreads misleading claims about American history, the U.S. Constitution, and the role of public lands—confusing both citizens and lawmakers across the country.

Passed in early January, the U.S. House of Representatives Rules package included a provision to make it easier to transfer or sell public lands. It enables public land transfers to be treated as “budget neutral”—so that public lands can be more easily transferred, sold off, donated, or exchanged.

On February 3, the same day that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum signed Secretarial Order 3418 “Unleashing American Energy” an order mandating a review of all lands withdrawn from fossil fuel and mining development, including national monuments, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create something called a sovereign wealth fund.

President Donald Trump’s executive order to create a sovereign wealth fund requires that the United States come up with heaps of cash quickly, which may make selling out and selling off public lands irresistible.

In early 2025, thousands of federal employees from the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) were fired. This mass layoff raised serious concerns about the future of our public lands and whether these agencies can continue to protect and manage them effectively.

If Congress is asked to vote on selling off or transferring these lands to state or private control, every representative in all 50 states must know the facts.

Republicans want to sell off your public lands...

Project 2025 is a Nightmare for America's Public Lands...

Trump’s Gift to America

Public Land Sell-Offs Back on the Table in Budget Reconciliation

Could Trump Sell Your Public Lands? Absolutely

Trump Quietly Plans To Liquidate Public Lands To Finance His Sovereign Wealth Fund

Public Land Sell Offs Are Back as House Rules Package Contains Giveaway Provision

Public Lands Face New State Takeover Attempts

Public Lands Enemies

The information below is designed to help you—whether you’re a concerned citizen or an elected official—understand what’s at stake and take informed action to protect America’s public lands for future generations.

YOUR LAND

Public Land Transfer Myths: 3-minute video

Every National Park That Started as a National Monument

The Antiquities Act: National Monuments Explained

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

Advocacy Group Erecting 300 Billboards Across Country In Support Of National Parks

Why Rep. Maloy moved to sell off thousands of acres of Utah’s public land

“Who needs public lands anyway??” Said Celeste Maloy…

This Land Was Your Land, This Land Was My Land. Now It’s for Sale

Senator Mike Lee S 3117 HOUSES ACT of 2023

Reps. Vasquez (D-NM-2) & Zinke (R-MT-1) Launch Congressional Public Lands Caucus

Rep. Stansbury: The GOP refuses to speak up on the impacts of their reconcilation bill

Everything about this Reconciliation bill in Natural Resources is a total lie

@REPSTANSBURY Reconcilliation Bill

Senator Heinrich on Economic Value of Public Lands to New Mexico

Western voters reject Trump agenda on public lands

Desire for conservation is a unifying issue for voters in the West

Conservation in the West Poll

Conservation and Public Lands in the West

Reps. Vasquez (D-NM) and Zinke (R-MT) move to ban sale of most public lands

How do National Parks Affect the Economy?

Op-Ed | Secretary Burgum's Acting Irresponsibly

Outdoor Recreation Economy Data Release and Webinar

Understanding Outdoor Recreation Economy Numbers 2021

US Department of Commerce BEA: Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, U.S. and States, 2023

THE OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY

The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State

‘Trump Slump’ Looms as Foreign Visitors Rethink Travel to U.S.

Utah’s Outdoor Recreation Economy Breaks Records, Reaching $9.5 Billion

Federal Employment in Utah

This Utah park reclaimed the top spot as national park visitation, rallied in 2024

Public lands in Utah take two steps forward and one step back

BLM in Utah loses 55 employees in a matter of months

Analysis of a Transfer of Federal Lands to the State of Utah

States don’t have a legal right to America’s public land

Original Land Titles in Utah Territory

Utah Statehood

Utah Statehood Enabling Act

Article III Utah Constitution

Enclave Clause: Enumerated Powers

Property Clause

Supremacy Clause

HB 143 Eminent Domain Authority /Legal Review

Eminent Domain Authority for Federal Lands Act Exposed

HB148 Transfer of Public Lands Act/ Legal Review

Western Attorneys General Litigation Action Committee

National System of Public Lands

Utah Public Lands Lawsuit

Utah files landmark lawsuit challenging federal control over most BLM land.

In August 2024, the Utah Legislature continued its fight against what it considers “federal overreach” by filing a lawsuit directly before the Supreme Court that claims the federal government’s ownership of 18.5 million acres of “unappropriated”’ federal public lands may be unconstitutional. Utah’s fight against the federal government may itself stand in conflict with the U.S. Constitution’s “Supremacy Clause,” which states that federal laws take precedence over state laws.

Signed into law on January 31, 2024, the Utah State Sovereignty Act allows the Utah Legislature by concurrent resolution “to prohibit a government officer from enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of a federal directive within the state if the Legislature determines the federal directive violates the principles of state sovereignty.” The law sets up a process for the state to overrule or otherwise ignore federal rules and decisions, but may not be constitutional.

This Land is My Land: Utah's Supreme Court Challenge to Federal Land Ownership

NEWS ADVISORY Utah Files Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Federal Control...

'The right time' — Cox, Reyes file Supreme Court lawsuit claiming 18.5M acres of federal land

The Utah Lawsuit that could change the face of the West

The feds own millionsof acres of public land in Utah...

Motion for Leave to File Bill of Complaint

Brief of U.S. Senators Mike Lee, Mitt Romney, and Other Western Members of Congress

In the Supreme Court of the United States State of Utah, Plaintiff v. United States of America

Taxpayer Funded Lawsuit and Stand For Our Land Let Utah Manage Utah Land Disinformation Campaign

Why Utah is asking for clarity from the U.S. Supreme Court

Novel approach: Why is Utah advertising its public lands lawsuit across the country?

Stand For Our Land Campaign

Protecting Our Public Land Rights

A History of Utah’s Public Lands and Who Controls Them

State Plans to Keep Public Lands in Public Hands

Here’s how much Utah is spending on a public relations campaign...

How much is Utah’s public lands lawsuit and PR campaign costing taxpayers?

Public Reaction to Utah's Lawsuit and Disinformation Campaign

SOUTHERN UTAH WILDERNESS ALLIANCE, Plaintiff, v. SPENCER J. COX,... SEAN D. REYES,...

The Great Utah Landgrab - More Government Overreach

Utah Wants the Supreme Court to Give It Land Owned by All Americans

18.5 Million Acres of Public Land Are on the Line in Utah in a New Lawsuit

Tribune editorial: Utah’s latest land-grab lawsuit has no legal leg to stand on

Utah's leaders are trying to dupe us about public lands

What would happen if Utah gained control over public lands?

Halt the Heist - Keep Public Lands in Public Hands

Politicians Reaction to Utah's Lawsuit and Disinformation Campaign

House GOP Sets Stage For Public Lands Sell Off

Utah Lawmakers Hint at "War" in Federal Land Dispute

12 States Get Behind Utah's Lawsuit to Take over Millions of Acres...

Wyoming backs Utah’s quest to seize BLM land, may want other fed property

Wyoming Senate demands Congress hand over federal land, including Grand Teton

Wyoming’s resolution transferring federal lands to the state has failed — again

U.S. Supreme Court: The motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied.

Supreme Court turns back Utah’s push to wrest control of public land from the federal government

Despite Supreme Court denial, Utah leaders vow to continue public lands fight

Previous Public Land Reviews

Ownership and Control of Public Lands

Are U.S. Public Lands Unconstitutional?

Utah's Transfer of Public Lands Act: Demanding a Gift of Federal Land

The Transfer of Public Lands Movement: The Battle to Take “Back” Lands That Were Never Theirs

Previous Public Land Transfer Disinformation

The document discusses Utah's Transfer of Public Lands Act, which calls on the federal government to transfer ownership of most federal lands in Utah back to the state. It provides background on land ownership in Utah, noting that the federal government owns about two-thirds of the state's land. It then makes the case that the Transfer Act is constitutional and consistent with the original intent of Utah's founding, when the federal government was expected to eventually dispose of public lands. It argues that interpreting Utah's Enabling Act and the U.S. Constitution in their original contexts supports the validity of the Transfer Act.

Sutherland Legal Analysis of UT HB 148 and Recommended Reading

Utah's Enabling Act and Congress 's Enclave Clause Authority: Federalism Implications of a Renewed State Sovereignty Movement

The Objective: To leverage a start-up investment of at least $250,000 into tens of millions in earned media regarding our public lands history and rights toward forging the collective "1828 Resolve" of local, state, and congressional leaders to compel the federal government to honor its promise to the western states--the same promise it made and kept with all states east of Colorado.

The Game Plan: In response to Utah's public lands offensive with the Transfer of Public Lands Act, several counties, municipalities, other organizations and leaders throughout the West have come together to form the American Lands Council {"ALC,"a non-profit 501(c)(4) pending} to secure and defend local control over issues of land access, land use, and land ownership.

American Lands Council The Modern-Day "1828 Resolve Tour" p.109

Federalist Society A Legal Overview of Utah's H.B. 148: The Transfer of Public Lands Act

ALEC the State Factor: Federally Managed Lands in the West...

Utah's Public Land Transfer Legislation