Hunting and Angling Leaders Speak Out Against Senate Plan to Sell Public Lands

DENVER (June 24, 2025) — Nationally recognized hunting and angling conservation leaders, representing millions of hunters and anglers nationwide, have released a video calling on the U.S. Senate to end all attempts to sell off public lands.

The participants include Steven Rinella (MeatEater), Joel Pedersen (Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership), Collin O’Mara (National Wildlife Federation), Patrick Berry (Backcountry Hunters and Anglers), Chris Wood (Trout Unlimited), Randy Newberg (Fresh Tracks), and Tony Wasley (Wildlife Management Institute). The video comes as Congress considers a budget reconciliation bill that proposes selling public land.

Public Lands: An Irreplaceable American Legacy

In the video, participants share a unified message:

“Public lands are one of the greatest ideas America has ever had. These lands serve as the backbone of our way of life and personify American freedom and liberty. While we understand that there are public lands management challenges that need to be addressed, we are unilaterally opposed to the large-scale efforts to sell or transfer public lands.

There is already a sound public process for selling small tracts of public land in the limited circumstances it makes sense to do so. Selling high-value public lands will not solve the housing crisis or the budget crisis. Once these lands are gone, they’re gone forever. We are not willing to let that happen.

We, as a community, are collectively asking Congress to listen to us, and to the American people, and immediately stop its attempts to sell public lands.”

Release and Outreach

The video premiered on social media channels at 7 p.m. ET on June 24, 2025. Media representatives interested in interviewing participants are encouraged to contact the listed media representatives.

Attribution: This article is based on official communications from the National Wildlife Federation and its coalition partners.

Photo Credits: Image by Jörg Vieli

About the Organization

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is the largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization in the United States, with over six million members and supporters, and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands).