Let’s keep #PublicLandsinPublicHands.

America’s Public Lands: A Legacy Under Threat

Part of what makes America so great and beautiful is the defining features its landscapes hold. Spanning mountainss, deserts, forests, and rivers, these lands have been protected not just for their breathtaking beauty, but for their cultural, ecological, and recreational value.

Today, the government manages approximately 640 million acres of public land, which accounts for nearly 28% of the United States' total landmass. These lands are held in trust for all Americans and are managed by agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the National Park Service. These lands are where we go to hike, bike, climb, ski, hunt, reflect, and connect with the natural world around us. They’re home to thousands of species and ecosystems that thrive, only because these spaces are protected.

That legacy is now under threat.

A Dangerous Shift: 3.3 Million Acres for Sale

A newly proposed amendment by Sen. Mike Lee to the so-called Big Beautiful Bill would put 3.3 Million acres of public land up for sale - including some of the most beloved and iconic landscapes in the country.

It's not as big and beautiful as you might think.

If passed by the Senate, this amendment would open the door to privatization and development in areas like:

• Gray and Torrey’s Peak (Co) 

• Ice Lake (CO) 

• Big, Small, and Millcreek Canyon (UT)

• Cathedral Rock (AZ)

• Artist Point (WA)

• Sparks Lake (OR)

• Convict Lake (CA)

• And countless more.

Once sold, we won’t get them back.

They’d be paved over, fenced off, or mined out. The public would lose access and more devastatingly, ecosystems would be fragmented, and sacred, scenic spaces would be sacrificed for short-term gain.

The loss wouldn’t just be ecological. It would be deeply emotional. For many, these places aren’t just dots on a map—they’re where childhood memories were made, where healing happened, and where adventure lives.

Selling them off is more than a policy decision. It’s a betrayal.

We must remember that these lands are not surplus, and they are not replaceable. Their value cannot be measured in dollars per acre. Their worth is found in experience, preservation, and the freedom to roam.

What You Can Do

This amendment hasn’t passed yet. There’s still time to speak up:

• Contact your representatives and tell them you oppose the amendment to the Big Beautiful Bill. Sign and send here.

• Join local conservation organizations that are fighting to protect public land access.

• Share this message with your community—because awareness is the first step toward action.

Public land is our common ground. Let’s make sure it stays that way.