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Interior says underused federal land could help Western housing shortages; senators demand transparency and local input
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Summary
Secretary Burgum told senators the department has identified tracts near cities that may be candidates for disposal or swaps to support housing; he cited the Southern Nevada model and FLPFA as examples. Senators, especially from Nevada and other Western states, pressed for public notice, lists of parcels and local engagement before any sales.
Secretary Doug Burgum told the Senate committee the department believes small fractions of federal holdings near population centers could be repurposed to support housing and infrastructure, and he cited the Southern Nevada framework as a workable model.
"We did a study of all these federal lands, and there's 250,000 acres, that's within, just a few miles of cities of 5,000 or more," Burgum said, arguing that targeted disposals or swaps could free sites adjacent to roads and utilities for infill housing and produce revenue for deferred maintenance and recreation projects.
Burgum pointed to the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) and the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLPFA) as existing mechanisms the department can use. He said public meetings and transparent processes would be used before any land is offered for sale and explicitly reassured senators that national parks would not be candidates for sale.
Ranking Member Sen. Martin Heinrich asked when the public would see lists of lands being considered; Burgum said the effort remains at an early, proposed stage and stressed the need for better data to make decisions. He told the committee that in some prior Southern Nevada disposals small parcels yielded significant proceeds: he cited a 41-acre sale that produced $16.75 million and an 80-acre parcel pending for affordable housing.
Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said existing models like SNPLMA require robust stakeholder engagement and objected to proposals she said surfaced in other venues that would authorize broad land sales without local input. She told the committee she expects the same level of engagement on any decisions affecting Nevada.
Why it matters: Western states hold large shares of federal land and local leaders have for years sought tools to remove particular tracts from federal ownership to support housing and infrastructure near cities. The committee debate combined policy tools (statutory land-sale mechanisms) with concerns about process, local planning capacity, and ensuring proceeds support public-land priorities.
What comes next: Burgum said the department would use public meetings and established law (SNPLMA, FLPFA) for potential disposals; senators asked for named parcel lists and additional briefings. The chairman said committee language would be released and any sale would involve a public process.
