The Justice Department is suing California over a state law that blocks the Trump administration from selling public lands to private companies, arguing that the state is violating the U.S. Constitution.
“The Constitution empowers the federal government — not state legislatures — to decide when and how federal lands are sold,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.
The Justice Department announced the lawsuit Monday, filing it in federal court in Sacramento.
“California was admitted to the union upon the express condition that it would never interfere with the disposal of federal land. And yet, once again, the California legislature has enacted an extreme state law attempting to frustrate federal policy,” Sessions said.
He said it is the “rightful prerogatives” of the military, the Interior Department, and other federal agencies to sell, exchange, and donate federal properties in line with the national interest, and it is up to the Justice Department to defend that right.
“We are confident that we will prevail in this case — because the facts are on our side,” Sessions said.
