WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR), U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), ranking member of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, pressed Leslie Beyer, the nominee to serve as the Assistant Secretary of the Interior overseeing lands and minerals management, about transferring public land away from federal management for possible resource development without the approval of Congress. During the exchange, Senator King expressed concerns about these transfers, making clear that the more than 640 million acres of public land — which includes parks, forests and monuments — belongs to the American people.

The hearing comes as the Trump Administration, in its first 100 days, has pushed aggressively to privatize federally managed lands and reshape environmental policy. Earlier this month, the Administration announced an initiative to inventory federally managed land and transfer “underutilized” land to states, cities or other private entities. These actions, alongside the drastic cuts to federal land agencies such as the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), could seriously undermine essential public land protections.

“You answered Senator Heinrich about the conveyance of public lands. You said only Congress can do that. Can I press you a little bit further and say that you will not support the conveyance or transfer of public lands without congressional approval,” questioned Senator King.

“Sir, if I am confirmed, I will follow the law as directed by congress,” responded Beyer.

“Let me talk in general policy. Do you think there is any justification for the conveyance of public lands in a more general sense? And I do not mean in holdings and that kind of thing. We do those things all the time. I'm talking about a more broad program of conveyance of public lands to states or private interests. As a matter of policy, do you support that or do you oppose it,” asked Senator King.

“I believe that not every acre of public land holds the exact same value, and that states know best in how they want to use their public lands,” replied Beyer.

“Are you saying you are ok with conveying public lands to states? Is that what you just said,” questioned Senator King.  

“I hope to be a calamity partner with congress on that,” said Beyer.

“I hope you will take that seriously because I have grave concern about conveyance of public lands. It belongs to the public, and the public voice is right here,” finished Senator King.

As a lifelong advocate for conservation and Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King is among the Senate’s most prominent voices advocating for conservation. Senator King helped lead the passage the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) into law; the legislation that included the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF). Because of his work, in 2020, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation (NPF) “Hero” Award. Since the creation of the LRF, Senator King has pushed park leaders to discuss funding maintenance efforts, maintaining a sufficient NPS workforce, and managing growing park visitation.

Senator King’s work on this legislation is the culmination of more than four decades of work on land conservation efforts in Maine, including helping to establish the Land for Maine’s Future program in 1987 and supporting extensive conservation projects during his time as Governor. Under King’s leadership in his eight years as Maine governor, he put more Maine land under conservation than in the state’s 175 year history.

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