Utah Sues Federal Government Over Land Control

Utah has filed a landmark lawsuit against the federal government, challenging the Bureau of Land Management's control over 18.5 million acres of unappropriated public land, which constitutes about 34% of the state. Utah officials argue that the federal government's indefinite control of these lands violates state sovereignty and restricts economic development and access for recreation. Governor Spencer Cox and Attorney General Sean Reyes emphasize that this control deprives Utah of its ability to manage and utilize its natural resources effectively. The lawsuit, directed to the U.S. Supreme Court, questions the constitutionality of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, which gives the BLM its authority. Critics, including environmental groups, view the lawsuit as a 'land grab' that could undermine public land protections. This legal action follows other disputes between Utah and federal land management policies under the Biden administration.