Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025
Key claim: The Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025 (HR5131) extends by 25 years the withdrawal and reservation of Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright training ranges in Alaska, the McGregor Range at Fort Bliss in New Mexico, and Fort Irwin land in California from appropriation under public land laws, including mining laws.
Abstract
(HR5131 · 119th Congress) Public Lands Military Readiness Act of 2025 This bill extends by 25 years the reservation of certain public lands for military use and the withdrawal of such lands from all forms of appropriation under the public land laws (e.g., mining laws). Specifically, the bill extends the withdrawal and reservation of the Fort Greely and Fort Wainwright Training Ranges in Alaska and the McGregor Range at Fort Bliss in New Mexico until November 6, 2051. It also extends the withdrawal and reservation of Fort Irwin military land in California until December 31, 2051. The bill also makes technical changes to the land descriptions of the McGregor Range and Fort Irwin lands. Latest action (2025-12-10): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Why this matters
Continued withdrawal of these ranges from public land and mining laws preserves long-term Army maneuver, live-fire, and test capacity at four major installations, blocking competing mineral and public-land claims for another 25 years. The bill is a routine but fiscally significant reauthorization: without extension the underlying withdrawals would lapse in the mid-2020s, potentially disrupting training tempo and requiring costly range relocation or environmental re-adjudication.