[avoutthere]

I've never understood how the federal government holding all of this land has held up in court. What is the constitutional justification for this?

[dodgemustang]

Because the land is owned by the U.S. Federal government after making deals with European countries, Native Americans, and also taking it from Native Americans by force.

No one has yet transfered the property rights to the land to anyone else.

[adams_at]

The Property Clause.

https://www.heritage.org/constitution/#!/articles/4/essays/1...

[gamblor956]

Governments can own property too...in capitalist economy government is just one of many market participants.