Legal Definitions - federal land

Federal land refers to any real estate, including both the surface and subsurface, that is owned and managed by the national government of a country. In the United States, this means land owned by the U.S. federal government, rather than by individual states, local municipalities, or private entities. This land is often designated for specific public purposes, such as conservation, recreation, national defense, or the operation of government facilities.

Here are some examples illustrating federal land:

• Imagine a vast expanse of wilderness, like the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. This iconic natural wonder is managed by the National Park Service, an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The land comprising the park is owned by the U.S. federal government for the purpose of preserving its natural beauty and allowing public access for recreation and education. This makes it a prime example of federal land.

• Consider a large military installation, such as Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos) in Texas. This sprawling property is dedicated to military training and operations for the U.S. Army. The land on which Fort Cavazos sits is owned by the U.S. Department of Defense, a federal executive department. Its ownership by the national government for defense purposes clearly defines it as federal land.

• Think about a building in a major city that houses a United States District Court. The land and the courthouse building itself are owned by the General Services Administration (GSA), an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for managing federal property. Since the property is owned by a federal agency and used for federal judicial functions, it is considered federal land.