The Wilderness Society has warned that the proposed legislative provision allowing the sale of millions of acres of public land lacks essential safeguards and could set a dangerous precedent that benefits the wealthy at the expense of public interest and conservation efforts.

On April 24, 2025, The Wilderness Society issued a press release criticizing the Trump administration's emergency permitting procedures that fast-track oil, gas, and mining projects on public lands by sidelining public input and environmental review. The Society argued that this move undermines democratic participation and jeopardizes environmental protections enshrined in laws like NEPA.

The Wilderness Society released a comprehensive report titled 'The Outsized Influence of Oil & Gas on Public Lands,' which criticizes the rollback of environmental protections and the fossil fuel industry's influence on public lands. The report highlights how policies and executive actions, particularly from the Trump administration, favor oil and gas leases at the expense of conservation, while celebrating reforms under the Biden administration that defend renewable energy development and public lands conservation.

The Wilderness Society published an article detailing provisions in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee budget reconciliation bill that would enable the sale of over 250 million acres of public lands, criticizing the bill for favoring privatization and energy dominance over public interest. The organization frames the bill as trading ordinary Americans' access to outdoor recreation for the benefit of a privileged few.

An OpenSecrets profile indicates that in 2023, all Wilderness Society lobbyists had previously held government positions, reflecting a revolving door dynamic. The profile also notes campaign finance totals of $160,000 for the current election cycle. This pattern raises concerns about potential regulatory capture and the influence of insider connections on political processes.