A sweeping new provision introduced into the federal budget bill by Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee could open the door to the largest sale of public land in U.S. history.If passed, the measure would make up to 18 million acres of federally managed public land in Utah eligible for sale over the next five years.

Mike Lee (R-Utah) makes like a tree and leaves national forests — and other federally owned land — alone. Last week, the Lee-led Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released a draft proposal,