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Utah Senator Mike Lee has introduced an amendment to the Interior appropriations bill that would pave the way for the Trump administration to sell off national parks to the highest bidder.
The president’s 2026 budget proposal only contains funding for a fraction of the national park system and could lead to the elimination of more than 300 national park units, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The Interior appropriations bill, as currently written, would prevent the Interior department from disposing of national park units—a provision that was introduced in response to President Trump's proposed budget and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s suggestion that the Park Service does not need many smaller historic and cultural sites that belong to all Americans. Amendment #3972 would strike section 130 in S.2431, the Interior appropriations bill, the section that requires the Interior department to maintain ownership and operation of all existing National Park Service units, national historic trails, and wild and scenic rivers.
If passed, Lee’s amendment would send a message to the White House that downsizing America’s national park system is acceptable. “This is a blatant and tone-deaf attack on America’s public lands,” said Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director Aaron Weiss. “Sen. Lee’s amendment shows his complete disregard for the fact that national parks, trails, and recreation areas fuel local economies across the West.”
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Pearce’s views on public lands are completely out of touch with Colorado’s values. He will be the first to sell off our public lands, promote Trump’s misguided ‘drill baby drill’ policies, and demolish the protections that ensure our kids and grandkids will benefit from public lands as we do now.”
