Interior Department’s 2026-2030 Plan Proposes Public Land Sales and NPS Restructuring

Key points

• The Interior Department’s 2026-2030 strategic plan, released on November 11, 2026, explicitly proposes decreasing the size of the federal estate by offering lands to states, localities, and Tribes for purchase.
• The plan prioritizes energy production and infrastructure, including rights-of-way agreements and land exchanges, with Secretary Doug Burgum emphasizing domestic energy expansion and critical minerals supply chains.
• The National Park Service faces a potential restructuring under a 'hub-and-spoke' model, centralizing decision-making at larger parks and reducing autonomy at smaller sites, following a 2025 workforce reduction of nearly 25%.
• The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed rules to shorten public comment periods from 90 to 30 days and eliminate Environmental Impact Statements for certain decisions, aiming to streamline project approvals.
• The plan includes shifting the Land and Water Conservation Fund away from federal land acquisition toward conservation easements on private lands, a departure from decades of precedent.

Background

This proposal follows a failed 2025 attempt by Senator Mike Lee to sell 3 million acres of BLM and Forest Service lands, which was blocked by bipartisan opposition. The current plan is part of a broader Trump administration strategy to prioritize extractive industries and energy development, as seen in recent actions like the Big Bend border wall construction and methane drilling restrictions. The Interior Department oversees over 750,000 square miles of land, with significant federal control in Western states like Nevada (80% federal land) and Montana (30% federal land).

How outlets are covering it

Critics, including the Sierra Club and Conservation Lands Foundation, argue the plan threatens public access, wildlife habitats, and cultural resources, describing it as an attempt to fast-track industrial development. Conservation leaders like Ryan Callaghan of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers warn that selling non-nationally significant lands could be 'catastrophic' for hunting and fishing access. Supporters, including BLM Director Steve Pearce, claim the changes will reduce costs, improve coordination, and address outdated bureaucratic hurdles. Some Republicans, like Montana Senators Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines, oppose the sales, stating they were not consulted and that public lands should remain in public hands. Democrats in Congress, including Senators Martin Heinrich and Representative Jared Huffman, pledge to resist the plan, arguing federal lands belong to the American people. Legal experts note that federal laws constrain land sales, requiring specific criteria such as uneconomic management or public benefit, and that protected lands cannot be sold.

Why it matters

The plan could reshape federal land management, potentially reducing public access and conservation efforts while accelerating energy development. It highlights ongoing tensions between preservation and extraction, with implications for Western states, indigenous communities, and environmental policy. The outcome may influence future legislation, including the BAAJA permitting bill, and set precedents for how public lands are managed under future administrations.

What to watch

The BLM is accepting public comments on its rule changes until January 11, 2026. Congress will debate the plan and related legislation, including BAAJA, in 2027, with Democrats now controlling both chambers. The administration may proceed with NPS restructuring and land sales if Congress does not block them, though legal constraints and political opposition pose significant hurdles. Conservation groups are urging public engagement to oppose the plan and demand changes to BAAJA.