PRESS STATEMENT: New Mexico Wild Statement on Removal of Public Lands Sell-off Amendment from House Budget Bill

May 22, 2025

Contact: Mark Allison, Executive Director, mark@nmwild.org,  505-239-0906

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – New Mexico Wild applauds the removal of the Public Lands Sell-off Amendment from the House Budget Reconciliation Bill. The amendment, introduced by Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-UT) and Mark Amodei (R-NV), would have forced the sale of over 500,000 acres of public land in Nevada and Utah – setting a dangerous precedent that could have threatened New Mexico’s treasured public lands.

“This is a huge victory for New Mexicans and anyone who believes our public lands belong to all Americans, not just the highest bidder,” said Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild. “The fact that House Republicans were forced to retreat shows that when we unite to defend our birthright, politicians listen. But make no mistake – this fight is far from over. The same forces that tried to sneak this land grab through would love nothing more than to come after New Mexico’s public lands next time.”

The amendment would have eliminated protections for lands near Zion National Park, critical habitat for threatened desert tortoises, and areas designated by Congress for conservation. With no requirements for public use or limitations on development, these cherished landscapes could have been turned into golf courses, luxury resorts, or strip malls – exactly the kind of fate New Mexicans refuse to accept for our own public lands.

“New Mexicans know what’s at stake when public lands come under attack,” Allison continued. “We’ve fought these battles before and won. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Representative Gabe Vasquez, who co-founded the new Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus with Montana Representative Ryan Zinke specifically to fight these kinds of attacks. Rep. Vasquez and the entire caucus proved that protecting public lands can unite lawmakers across party lines, and their leadership made all the difference in stopping this land grab.”

New Mexico Wild also thanks its members and partner organizations across the state and country who mobilized quickly to oppose the provision. New Mexicans made their voices heard, demonstrating once again that our state stands united in defense of public lands.

While celebrating this victory, New Mexico Wild warns that public land seizure efforts will continue, and New Mexico remains a target. The organization remains committed to the vigilant defense of New Mexico’s public lands for current and future generations.

“Our public lands are not for sale – not today, not tomorrow, not ever,” Allison concluded. “We’ll keep fighting these cynical attempts to liquidate our children’s inheritance, whether it’s developers or mining companies eyeing our most treasured places. New Mexico’s public lands heritage is too precious to gamble away for budget gimmicks or tax cuts for billionaires.”

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