Latest / The Fiscal Policy Podcast with Fexingo: Government Budgets, Stimulus, and Public Spending
Why Government Owns So Much Vacant Land
Episode 66 of The Fiscal Policy Podcast explores a hidden fiscal drag: the U.S. federal government owns roughly 640 million acres of land — about 28 percent of the country. But much of it sits vacant, generating zero revenue while requiring maintenance. We drill into one specific case: the Bureau of Land Management's 245 million acres, which cost taxpayers $1.2 billion annually to manage but generate only $200 million in receipts. Lucas and Luna discuss why selling off even a fraction of low-value parcels could reduce the deficit, how private land trusts manage land more efficiently, and…
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