For the Love of Public Land: A Thank You to Rep. Simpson
OpEd by Sydney Anderson, Mining and Policy Manager at Idaho Rivers United
Idaho’s identity is deeply rooted into the 34 million acres of public land that provide mountains, deserts, and river corridors that we are known for. These places are where generations of Idahoans have hunted elk, wet a fly line, grazed cattle, and built outdoor businesses that keep small towns alive. They are also part of a larger commonality by being one of the few things that truly belongs to every American, no matter where we live or how thick our wallet is.
We all have a stake in protecting our public land. It is inspiring to see the millions of people across the nation rally to keep federal lands in public hands. The power of these outdoor spaces has created a common value that brings even people with contrasting ideologies together. Whether that value is derived from personal livelihood and economic opportunity, recreation, or a simple appreciation for these resources, public lands are synonymous with living in the West.
When this legacy sat on the auction block recently, Idahoans and Americans across the country stepped up. Senator Mike Lee (R‑UT) repeatedly revised his push to let the federal government sell off vast land parcels managed by the Bureau of Land Management, as part of his amendment to the budget reconciliation bill, but ultimately failed. Grassroots advocates knew a sale would be irreversible. Once our public lands are transferred to private hands, locked gates and no‑trespass signs will follow, jeopardizing access to waters and lands that are the backbone to our $7.8 billion outdoor recreation economy here in Idaho.
Representative Mike Simpson (R‑ID)—along with Representatives Ryan Zinke (R‑MT), Dan Newhouse (R‑WA), Cliff Bentz (R‑OR), and David Valadao (R‑CA)—understood this as well, and came together publicly to oppose any reconciliation package that carried language authorizing the disposal of federal public lands. In an era when bipartisan cooperation is rare, their decision proves that the West’s open spaces are a common value that is stronger than party lines. As an Idahoan and constituent, I enthusiastically applaud their leadership.
By promising to vote “no” on any land-sale provision, Simpson and his colleagues sent a clear message: Our states will not allow these cherished spaces to be liquidated to the highest bidder. They listened to the call to action made by hunters and anglers who rely on public access, ranchers who depend on grazing permits, outdoor guides whose livelihoods hinge on wild places, and families who simply want their kids to know the magic of these landscapes.
Critics sometimes argue that federal agencies mismanage these landscapes. Fair enough, no institution is perfect. But only land that stays in public ownership remains subject to public oversight. Selling it off would silence our voices permanently and invite the kind of fragmented checkerboard ownership that will exacerbate frustrations over access and management issues.
So thank you, Representative Simpson, for standing with Idahoans. Thank you, Representatives Zinke, Newhouse, Bentz, and Valadao, for putting the public interest ahead of short‑term profit. Your stance honors not only your constituents, but the millions of Americans who understand that public lands bring all of us together.
Let it be crystal clear to Senator Lee and anyone tempted to follow his lead in the future: these lands belong to the people of the United States, and we intend to keep it that way.
