Federal ownership and utilization of lands have been a subject of controversy, with conflicting public values giving rise to various questions and concerns. The Biden Administration's 30x30 conservation initiative is seeking to place more land under federal ownership.
Congress is currently grappling with several issues related to federal land management, including the extent of federal ownership, and whether to decrease, maintain, or increase the number of federal holdings.
Another issue facing Congress is whether to make the acquisition of new lands a priority or address the condition of existing federal infrastructure. The $19.38 billion maintenance backlog of the four primary land management agencies is a major factor in this debate, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Additionally, there is an ongoing debate over finding the optimal balance between land protection and use, such as energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and other purposes. This raises questions as to whether federal lands should be managed to primarily benefit the nation as a whole or to benefit the localities and states in which the federal lands are situated. Lastly, the challenges of border control on federal lands along the southwestern border are complex due to the length of the border, differing agency missions, and conflicting views on constructing border barriers.
The federal government's ownership of land in the United States amounts to approximately 640 million acres, which is about 28% of the total 2.27 billion acres. Among these lands, four major federal land management agencies are responsible for administering 606.5 million acres as of September 30, 2018. These agencies include the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS) under the Department of the Interior (DOI), and the Forest Service (FS) under the Department of Agriculture. Furthermore, the Department of Defense (excluding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) manages 8.8 million acres of land in the United States, comprising military bases, training ranges, and other facilities as of September 30, 2017.
The federal lands under the management of the four primary agencies serve various purposes, with a primary focus on preservation, recreation, and development of natural resources. However, each agency has distinct responsibilities. The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for managing 244.4 million acres, while the Forest Service manages 192.9 million acres, both under similar mandates of multiple-use and sustained yield that support diverse activities and programs. The Fish and Wildlife Service manages 89.2 million acres of the total U.S. land, primarily for the conservation and protection of animals and plants. In FY2018, the National Parks Service managed 79.9 million acres across 417 diverse units to safeguard lands and resources and provide public access. The 8.8 million acres of land managed by the Department of Defense are mainly used for military training and testing.
