The Politics of Public Lands in the Modern Era

Abstract

This chapter examines public land policies throughout various presidential administrations. In the 1970s, as the network of protected public lands was rapidly expanding, rhetoric on the right side of the political spectrum began to change. Along with the usual calls for loose regulation and making more public lands available for mining and logging came demands that the United States simply relinquish ownership of substantial amounts of public land to private interests or state governments. The chapter first takes a look at the politics of public lands as seen from the Reagan administration to the George W. Bush administration. Next, the chapter explores presidencies from George W. Bush to Donald Trump, focusing in particular on the latter's administration.