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Ryan Zinke: Selling Public Lands Won’t Solve the $38 Trillion Debt or Housing Crisis

Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke criticized a proposal by Sen. Mike Lee to sell more than 1 million acres of federal land, arguing asset sales won’t fix the $38 trillion national debt or the housing shortage. Zinke said selling public land merely strips the country of resources without addressing root causes. Lee called the plan a response to mismanagement and an opportunity to boost local development. The debate raises broader questions about long-term stewardship of public assets and policy solutions for debt and housing.

09:45 PM, 11/24/2025Politics
Ryan Zinke: Selling Public Lands Won’t Solve the $38 Trillion Debt or Housing Crisis

Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke sharply criticized a MAGA-backed proposal to force the sale of more than 1 million acres of federal land, saying asset sales won’t address the nation’s mounting problems. In a recent televised interview, Zinke said selling public property is a short-sighted response to deeper fiscal and housing challenges.

The land-sale provision was drafted by Sen. Mike Lee and presented as a way to ease the housing shortage and reduce the national debt. Zinke, who led the Interior Department during President Donald Trump’s first term, joined a bipartisan effort this year to block the provision from becoming law.

“You could sell the entirety of the federal estate, it’s not gonna get you out of debt,” Zinke said. “If you have a hotel, and the hotel is being mismanaged, you don’t sell the hotel. You get new management. And then if you sell the public land, you sell it all, right? Have you changed why you’re in debt? No, you’ve just sold your assets.”

Zinke argued the proposal would also fail to solve the housing crisis. “It’s a red, white, and blue issue. It’s not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is an American issue. And once you sell land, you’re not gonna get it back,” he said, warning that public lands are long-term assets that support recreation, conservation and local economies.

Sen. Mike Lee defended his plan as a response to mismanagement, saying the federal government controls more land than it can effectively steward and that transferring some parcels could spur local growth. His office characterized the proposal as a tool to unlock development and ease housing supply constraints.

The interview also touched on broader tensions at the network that airs the program: leadership changes and programming shifts have prompted debate about editorial direction and guest booking. The network’s recent management overhaul and personnel changes have become part of the conversation around how major interviews and controversial topics are covered.

Observers say the debate highlights a larger question: whether selling federal assets is a responsible way to address structural fiscal imbalance and housing shortages, or whether it risks permanently forfeiting public resources that serve future generations.

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