Dear editor:
I am writing to express my deep opposition to the proposed sale of public lands included in what some are calling “the Big Beautiful Bill.”
Behind the patriotic branding and hollow promises lies a deeply shortsighted and damaging policy that threatens the core of what makes the American West special: our shared public lands.
This proposal would sell off large swaths of public land — land that belongs to every American — in the name of “fiscal responsibility.”
In reality, it’s nothing more than a thinly veiled wealth transfer. The wealthiest Americans and large corporate interests stand to benefit by buying up these lands at bargain prices, while the proceeds are earmarked to fund tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the same group.
Meanwhile, everyday Americans lose access to places where we hunt, fish, hike, and find solitude.
Selling public land may result in a one-time injection of cash, but it sacrifices perpetual value.
Our public lands support local economies through recreation, hunting, fishing, and tourism — industries that generate sustainable revenue year after year. In places like Wyoming, these lands are not just scenic backdrops — they are the economic and cultural lifeblood of rural communities.
Once sold, that access and opportunity is gone for good.
Worse yet, this plan ignores the vital ecological role public lands play. These areas provide irreplaceable habitat for wildlife and are key corridors for migration and biodiversity.
Fragmenting them through privatization will have cascading impacts on the health of our ecosystems and the species that depend on them.
This is not a fiscal strategy; it’s a liquidation of national heritage for the short-term gain of a privileged few.
I urge our elected officials — and all Americans who care about open space, wildlife, and generational opportunity — to speak out and reject this disastrous proposal.
Our public lands should remain just that: public.
Sincerely,
Ryan Grove, Pinedale
