GOP Rift Grows as Senator Mike Lee Drops Land-Sale Provision from “Big Beautiful Bill”
Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah has voluntarily removed a contentious provision from President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” that would have allowed the sale of millions of acres of federal land. The move follows objections from GOP colleagues concerned about the plan’s political and ecological fallout.
Lee’s amendment, aimed at selling more than 3 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management, sparked intense backlash, particularly from Western Republicans in Idaho and Montana. Critics warned that offloading large parcels could threaten public access, wildlife habitats, and revenue streams for local economies.
Facing mounting intra-party pressure and bipartisan skepticism, Senator Lee said he had chosen to shelve the land-sale proposal ahead of final floor votes to preserve party unity.
Lee framed the decision as a strategic retreat that preserves momentum behind the broader federal tax and spending package, which also offers tax credits for vehicle loans, retirement benefits, and social programs. He said he remains committed to revisiting land-transfer ideas through more targeted legislation outside the package.
The controversy highlights deeper divisions within the GOP—between fiscal conservatives advocating for state-level control over public lands and traditional public-land Republicans who favored stewardship and access protections.
With input from Fox News
