Senate Republicans have revived a controversial plan to sell off up to 3.3 million acres of federal land in 11 Western states, including Washington, as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill backed by President Trump. The proposal, added by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) to the Senate version of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” would require the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to auction 0.5–0.75% of their holdings by 2030 for housing or “community development needs.”

The draft legislation excludes national parks and wilderness areas, but critics say it opens the door to large-scale privatization of public lands long used for recreation, conservation, and tribal access. Opponents argue the bill lacks clear definitions for “community needs” and imposes no affordability requirements.

Washington, with nearly 13 million acres of federal public land, could see tens of thousands of acres put up for sale. The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and BLM parcels near Yakima and Spokane may be vulnerable, depending on proximity to population centers. According to a May 2025 analysis by Headwaters Economics, federal land near towns in Washington is unlikely to be suitable for housing due to distance from population centers and high wildfire risk. The study found that viable parcels are concentrated in just five states—Nevada, Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Utah—with Washington notably absent from that list.

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington, a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has not publicly commented on the proposal. But conservation groups warn it could irreversibly damage ecosystems, wildlife corridors, and outdoor recreation economies.

If passed, the bill would mark one of the largest federal land disposals in U.S. history.