Legal Definitions - acquired federal land

Acquired federal land refers to land that was obtained by the United States government through means other than the public domain. This can include land that was purchased, gifted, exchanged, or obtained through condemnation from private or state ownership.

Examples of acquired federal land include:

• Land purchased by the government from a private owner for the purpose of building a military base
• Land gifted to the government by a wealthy donor for conservation purposes
• Land obtained through condemnation for the construction of a highway

These examples illustrate how the government can acquire land for various purposes, and that acquired federal land can come from a variety of sources. It is important to note that acquired federal land is distinct from public domain land, which is land that has always been owned by the government.