Senate’s Byrd Rule Upends Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
TimeJUN 24
The Byrd Rule is being weaponized to obstruct President Trump's agenda and block common-sense reforms that would boost American energy production and address the housing crisis. These provisions — which specifically exempt National Parks, Monuments, Wilderness Areas, and other protected lands — would have created jobs, increased domestic energy output, and provided affordable land for housing development that working families desperately need.
The Senate Parliamentarian's ruling is a win for protecting public lands from reckless privatization. The parliamentarian correctly identified that Republicans were trying to sneak anti-environmental policies into a budget bill where they don't belong. Their "Big Beautiful Bill" aimed to sell off 3.3 million acres of vital federal land — including wildlife habitats and local recreation areas — all to line corporate pockets. Public lands belong to the people, not developers. The fight isn’t over, but this is a crucial step forward.
Mike Lee’s latest attempt to sell off public lands is raising serious doubts. While he claims to revise his plan, such promises sound hollow considering his track record of pushing anti-public lands measures. His vague talk of “Freedom Zones” and undefined “population centers” doesn’t inspire confidence. After years of undermining public land protections, can we really trust Lee to do the right thing now? The fight is far from over, and vigilance is key.