Montana’s public lands define who we are. They’re where we hunt, fish, hike, and pass down our outdoor traditions and way of life to our families. They support our economy, sustain our wildlife, and connect us to the places we love most.
But a new report released today warns that a growing political movement to transfer federal public lands to state control could devastate Montana’s economy, upend public access, and put our outdoor way of life at risk.
Read the report here.
The report, authored by longtime state and federal land manager John Tubbs, was developed in partnership with the Montana Wildlife Federation, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, and Mountain Mamas. It offers the most comprehensive look yet at what a federal land transfer would actually cost Montana—and the numbers are staggering.
The Bottom Line: $7.9 Billion
According to the report, if Montana were to take over the responsibility of managing federal public lands currently overseen by agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, it would come with a conservatively estimated $7.9 billion price tag over the next 20 years.
That includes:
- $5.5 billion in wildfire suppression and mitigation
- $1 billion in abandoned mine cleanup
- $623 million in deferred infrastructure maintenance (roads, bridges, trails, campgrounds)
- An annual loss of $40 million in federal PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) that counties depend on for schools, emergency services, and road crews
- A 1,600% increase in grazing fees for Montana ranchers
These costs would fall squarely on the shoulders of Montana taxpayers—many of whom already live in rural areas with limited tax bases. The state does not currently have the infrastructure, personnel, or budget to manage these lands at the scale and level the federal government provides.
And if the state can’t afford the cost? It would likely be forced to sell those lands off to the highest bidder.
More Than Just Numbers
The report goes beyond dollars and cents. It paints a clear picture of what’s at stake if this movement succeeds: restricted access, lost wildlife habitat, and diminished public oversight of lands that currently belong to every American.
“Montanans should be aware of the staggering financial and economic toll a federal land transfer would take on taxpayers, our state, and our outdoor way of life,” said John Tubbs. “This research shows how the land transfer movement would both send our state’s economy into a tailspin and open the door for privatization of public lands. These impacts would be unsustainable—and irreversible.”
It’s not just the cost of managing the land. It’s the loss of what that land provides: wildlife corridors, hunting opportunities, intact habitat, clean water, and freedom to roam. These are the pillars of Montana’s $5.4 billion outdoor recreation economy and the foundation of our public land heritage.
Why Now?
The land transfer movement is gaining momentum. We’ve seen a renewed push to move federal lands into state hands or open them up for sale.
Recent examples include:
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum proposing public land sales as part of affordable housing strategies
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Congressional rule changes aimed at expediting development and reducing public oversight on federal lands
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State-level resolutions, including in Montana, have attempted to support lawsuits like Utah’s effort to seize federal lands
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A wave of federal bills pushing for land transfers or outright liquidation of public assets
This report makes it clear: this isn’t a hypothetical. It’s already underway.
What We Stand to Lose
If Montana were to absorb the management of federal lands without the accompanying federal support, it would quickly face an impossible choice: raise taxes dramatically, cut vital public services, or sell off public lands.
And once they’re gone, we don’t get them back.
Transferring ownership or management of federal public lands would undercut the very systems that have made Montana a leader in wildlife management, public access, and land stewardship. It would undermine generations of work by hunters, anglers, landowners, and conservationists who’ve fought to keep these places open, productive, and wild.
At Montana Wildlife Federation, we believe that public lands should stay in public hands—and that Montanans shouldn’t have to pay more just to lose what’s already ours. We’re proud to stand alongside partners like BHA, Mountain Mamas, and MCV Education Fund in co-releasing this report and sounding the alarm on what’s at stake.
