{"id":139,"date":"2025-11-24T16:54:20","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T16:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/impact.nwf.org\/2025\/?page_id=139"},"modified":"2026-03-20T13:56:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T13:56:30","slug":"advocacy-in-action","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/impact.nwf.org\/2025\/advocacy-in-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy in Action"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Man<\/div>
Photo Credit: Getty Images<\/div>
Advocacy in Action<\/div>

Keeping Public Lands in Public Hands<\/h1>
\n

The approximately 640 million acres of public lands \u2014 from national parks to wildlife refuges and national grasslands to national forests \u2014 provide essential habitat, recreational opportunities, cultural access and enjoyment, and historical preservation. Despite this immense value, these uniquely American treasures were recently threatened by several short-sighted attempts to sell off vast swaths of public lands to the highest bidder.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

Halting the Heist of Public Lands<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n

In August 2024, officials in Utah filed a lawsuit<\/a> claiming the federal government unconstitutionally owned 18.5 million acres of public land in the state. Our public lands team began educating the public and the sporting community about the dangerous implications this lawsuit had on public lands more broadly, joining podcasts and creating a website and campaign called \u201cHalt the Heist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Fortunately, in January 2025, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case. But we knew we had to stay alert. The lawsuit \u201cwas concerning, because it was an early signal of a multi-branch effort to sell public lands.\u201d says David Willms, associate vice president for public lands. \u201cWe were one of the first national organizations to identify the threat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

A few months later, in what Willms described as \u201ca late-night move that flew under the radar for most Americans,\u201d a land sale provision appeared in the congressional budget reconsolidation bill. Once again, NWF and its supporters activated immediately. \u201cWe had less than a month on the House side to get it removed, and even less time than that on the Senate side,\u201d said Willms.<\/p>\n\n

The Message Ignites Across the Country <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

By appearing on popular podcasts<\/a>, crafting compelling social media posts, writing explainer blogs<\/a>, and sending action alerts, we set the record straight and mobilized voters across the country.<\/p>\n\n

The message caught fire. Senators complained to their staffers that their email inboxes were jammed, phones ringing off the hook. They struggled to get \u201creal work done,\u201d as their constituents implored: say no to public land sales<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

This time, our advocacy prevailed: Leaders across the political spectrum, including a former Trump Administration Interior secretary, stood with the public and opposed the land sales \u2014 protecting these lands, every American\u2019s birthright, for now.<\/p>\n\n

\"Halt<\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n

Getting the Word Out<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n

NWF\u2019s Successful <\/strong>Halt the Heist<\/strong><\/a> Campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

From coast to coast, NWF set the record straight and mobilized voters across the country to \u201cHalt the Heist\u201d through outreach that included radio, TV, podcasts, social media, blogs, alerts, and more.<\/p>\n\n