A group of five House Republicans is warning party leaders that they will oppose a major GOP legislative package if it includes a controversial provision allowing the sale of federal public lands for development, Politico reports.
Their opposition comes in response to an effort by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to incorporate land sales into the bill as part of a broader strategy to address the nation’s housing shortage.
The lawmakers — led by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.), a former Interior Secretary — issued a joint statement Thursday declaring that any version of the bill containing Sen. Lee’s land sale language would be a dealbreaker. They were joined by Reps. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), and David Valadao (R-Calif.), all representing Western states with significant federal land holdings.
“We cannot accept the sale of federal lands that Sen. Lee seeks,” the group wrote. “If a provision to sell public lands is in the bill that reaches the House floor, we will be forced to vote no.”
Sen. Lee initially introduced the provision as part of the reconciliation bill process but had to revise and narrow it after the Senate parliamentarian ruled the original version did not comply with procedural rules. His goal is to make federal land available for development as a way to expand affordable housing, an issue he has described as increasingly urgent.
Lee’s revised proposal has yet to be fully evaluated by all Senate Republicans. While Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) confirmed that GOP senators have the votes needed to block the provision if necessary, Lee’s office indicated he is still working to build support.
“Sen. Lee remains committed to working with his colleagues to address the nation’s housing crisis,” a spokesperson said. “He continues fighting for Americans who simply want an affordable place to call home.”
The opposition from the five House Republicans carries weight, as their votes alone could be enough to derail the legislation in the House if the GOP maintains only a narrow majority. The group described Lee’s land sale measure as a “grave mistake” and a “poison pill” that threatens to unravel broader party priorities.
They instead urged Republicans to rely on existing legal frameworks for federal land disposals and to focus on advancing the House GOP’s own legislative agenda on public lands and natural resources.
The debate underscores long-standing tensions within the Republican Party over public land policy, especially in Western states where such lands play a central role in environmental conservation, recreation, and local economies. While some Republicans view land sales as a means to encourage economic growth and housing development, others are wary of compromising access to public lands or undermining conservation values.
