This policy tip sheet argues that the federal government’s vast ownership and control of land—especially in Western states—undermines state sovereignty, stifles economic opportunities, and contradicts the constitutional balance envisioned by America’s Founders. The document highlights stark disparities in land ownership, noting that states like Alaska and many in the West manage only a fraction of their own territory, while Eastern states face comparatively little federal oversight. This unequal distribution has given Washington outsized authority over regional economies, land use, water rights, and development decisions that would ordinarily fall under state or local control.
The report details how federal agencies often impose restrictive, inconsistent, or poorly designed regulations that hinder productive land use. Examples include long permitting delays, burdensome rules governing grazing and agriculture, and federal lawsuits that override state water-rights claims. The tip sheet also emphasizes the consequences of federal mismanagement, particularly regarding wildfires. Lengthy approval processes, environmental litigation, and limits on prescribed burns have contributed to increasingly severe fires on federally controlled land. Additionally, carbon-credit incentives encourage land to be left unmanaged, further increasing fire risk and reducing opportunities for agricultural, housing, and commercial development.
Finally, the document outlines the economic potential locked within federally controlled lands. Vast reserves of oil, natural gas, critical minerals, and fertile acreage remain inaccessible due to federal restrictions, suppressing job creation and limiting state revenues. The tip sheet argues that restoring state authority over select federal lands—combined with reforms to permitting, forest management, and resource development—would reduce wildfire risks, expand economic growth, protect private property rights, and strengthen national security. It concludes that returning land and decision-making power to the states is essential for revitalizing local economies and reestablishing the constitutional principles of self-government.
(Click here to read the full Policy Tip Sheet.)
Abby Black
Abby Black was a 2025 fellow in the American Journey Experience's Freedom Rising Fellowship Program.
