House Republicans have advanced a controversial amendment authorizing the sale of thousands of acres of federal public land in Nevada and Utah.
The amendment, introduced by Reps. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) and Celeste Maloy (R-Utah), were approved late Tuesday night as part of a broader budget reconciliation package after a marathon session in the House Natural Resources Committee.
The parcels targeted for sale, over 11,000 acres, are located in fast-growing regions outside Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, and near St. George, Utah.
Supporters argue the move will help address affordable housing shortages and spur local economic development, as local governments in these states have long struggled with restrictions due to the high proportion of federally owned land, about 80% in Nevada and 63% in Utah.
However, land availability is only one piece of the housing crisis puzzle. Outdated or exclusionary zoning laws often limit the types and density of housing that can be built, making it difficult to add affordable units even when land is available. ermit processing fees, impact fees, and other charges imposed by local governments can significantly raise the cost of new housing, making projects financially unviable or pushing prices higher for buyers and renters while complex and slow approval processes delay construction and add to costs. Additionally, many federal lands lack essential infrastructure like water and sewage systems, which can make development costly or impractical without significant investment.
Democrats and environmental advocates condemned the amendment, calling it a rushed, late-night maneuver that could pave the way for expanded mining, drilling, and other development on sensitive public lands. They also criticized the lack of input from local representatives whose districts include some of the affected areas. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) called the process “deeply irresponsible,” while Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) described the measure as “a land grab to fund Republicans’ billionaire giveaway tax bill”.
“In the dead of night, Representative Mark Amodei pushed House Republicans to move forward with an insane plan that cuts funding from water conservation and public schools across Nevada,” she said.
