Keeping the “Public” in Public Lands

Today is Public Lands Day. But what should be a day to celebrate our treasured outdoor spaces and national parks is a reminder of something much more sinister: Trump's endless attacks on our public lands and attempts to give them away for the benefit of corporations.

During his second term, Trump has moved to strip more than 86 million acres of public land of their federal protections. His priorities? Resource extraction, privatization, and commercial development for new data centers.

Last June, we were able to stave off attempts to force the sale of nearly 3 million acres of public land, but our work is not done. The Trump administration is currently reviewing proposals that would open up over 17,000 acres of public lands across Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Oregon for development of data centers.

Public lands belong to you, the taxpayers. Not Trump and not corporations. Not only do we have a right to know what is being discussed, but many communities have made their opinions clear: Keep Your Hands Off Our Public Lands.

Our public lands are essential to our identity as Oregonians. But this administration thinks it can silently and secretly auction them off for the benefit of billionaires, so corporations can turn these spaces into new data centers and mining operations. Our Public Lands are not their personal gold mine.

On Public Lands Day and every day, I remain committed to protecting our natural treasures.

Onward,

Ron