Groups express alarm about Mike Lee lands amendment

The Senate is preparing for a series of votes on amendments to the Interior-Environment funding bill. Republicans and Democrats have both put forward proposals, setting up a clash over land management, conservation funding, and workforce rules. The outcome could reshape policies affecting national parks, wildland firefighters, and federal research facilities.

Senate Republican leaders cleared the way for the spending package by addressing GOP objections. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) secured votes on his amendment, which would remove four key provisions from the bill. One of these would eliminate the requirement for the Interior Department to maintain all federal lands within national parks. Conservation groups have warned that Lee’s proposal could open the door for the Trump administration to sell off protected park lands.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reached an agreement with Lee to lift his procedural holds, allowing the minibus to advance. The exact terms of the deal remain undisclosed. Meanwhile, Sen. John Barrasso is pushing to keep a rule that forces the Interior Department to report to Congress within 45 days on any action affecting at least 10% of its workforce. Lee’s amendment would also scrap provisions letting the Agriculture Department waive cost-sharing requirements and mandating that agencies notify Congress before workforce changes.

Democrats are countering with their own amendments. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are pushing measures to support wildland firefighters and prevent the closure of federal research sites. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced proposals to block changes to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and ensure timely grant awards from NOAA. Other Democratic amendments aim to block offshore drilling and reauthorise the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Merkley have pledged to oppose Lee’s amendment. The Senate is now reviewing the Republican-backed funding deal while preparing to vote on nearly two dozen energy and environment-related proposals.

The upcoming votes will determine whether Lee’s provisions to relax land protections and reporting rules are removed. If passed, Democratic amendments could expand support for firefighters, research facilities, and conservation programmes. The final version of the bill will reflect which party’s priorities gain the upper hand in the Senate.