America’s Public Land Crisis: Too Much Federal Control, Too Little Freedom

When the federal government controls over 70% of the land in Utah, it’s not just a policy issue—it’s a crisis for rural communities trying to survive and thrive. In this episode of American Potential , host David From sits down with Congresswoman Celeste Maloy, who represents Utah’s 2nd Congressional District and brings a rare combination of real-world experience—as a former soil conservationist and public lands attorney—to one of the biggest underreported issues facing the American West: federal land control. They explore how Washington’s top-down management of public lands has led to economic decline, lost jobs, and broken communities throughout the West. What was once land of opportunity is now tied up in red tape, blocked access, and one-size-fits-all mandates from bureaucrats who’ve never set foot in these towns. Maloy breaks down how we got here—from early land grants and homesteading to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976—and why the West was promised local control but got federal overreach instead. If you believe in local decision-making, respect for property rights, and free people shaping their own future, this episode is a powerful look at what’s gone wrong—and how we can start to fix it.