"Public lands aren't Democrat. They're not Republican. They are for everybody to enjoy." – Rep. Gabe Vasquez

This morning, I had the honor of speaking with Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) on a special live-streamed episode of The Caroline Gleich Show to mark the launch of the bipartisan Public Lands Caucus—a bold new coalition in Congress dedicated to protecting America’s public lands from privatization.

Photo courtesy of Rep. Vasquez

As Rep. Vasquez explained:
"We launched this caucus to protect the public lands that define our identity as Americans. These lands are not just acres on a map—they're sacred spaces that belong to all of us, not commodities to be auctioned off."

Why Now?

Vasquez and other members of Congress created the caucus in response to renewed threats:
"We've seen some efforts that have continued to come back from the dead in states like Utah and other places in an attempt to privatize federal lands."

That’s why he and Rep. Ryan Zinke—yes, a former Secretary of the Interior—are teaming up across party lines to introduce legislation like the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, which, in Vasquez’s words, "prevents the wholesale or transfer of federal lands to private entities."

What’s at Stake?

We talked about the push to sell off public lands as a slow and sophisticated strategy:
"By cutting the workforce, it's also a way to cut access and say the federal government is unable to adequately manage federal lands. So maybe somebody else could manage it better. And then that translates to saying, 'Well, we can sell it to a private entity.'"

He warned:
"If you go to a state like Texas where only 2% is public land, you see how limited access is. You have to pay for access. I think folks who want to capitalize off of that industry—hunting, fishing, skiing—they want to make you pay for it."

A Tool for Advocates

This new caucus gives advocates a centralized place to engage.
"This is going to be a great tool for advocates. We have endorsements from over a dozen conservation organizations."

Even if your member of Congress isn't on the caucus yet, they can be:
"We'd love to have your help. Our office is the point of contact. You can send an email, make a phone call, or tag your member of Congress on Twitter encouraging them to join."

Bears Ears, Escalante & What You Can Do

We also spoke about the danger facing places like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante:

We also spoke about the threats facing places like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante:

"We saw the last administration reduce those monument boundaries. That means folks have to stand up again—get off the trail and into a legislator's office, make calls, send emails, participate in a local group."

"It's exhausting. And I think that's part of the plan for folks who want to privatize these places—they want to tire us out."

But there’s hope in action:
"It just really takes everybody—business owners, tribal communities, veterans, environmental advocates, birders, hunters, anglers—to come together once again to defend these places."

Final Word

"Public lands are the great equalizer. On a trail, it doesn't matter how much money you have or where you're from. Nature treats you just the same."

I hope you'll take this as your sign to stand up.

Call to Action:

📢 Write your lawmakers to support the Public Lands in Public Hands Act.

🏔️ Outdoor brands: Join the Brands for Public Lands coalition with The Conservation Alliance.

📣 Share this post and the livestream/podcast to spread the word.

Let's protect the wild places that restore us. Let’s keep public lands in public hands.