When the Great American Outdoors Act passed in 2020 it secured the promised $900 million annually in LWCF funding for conservation and outdoor recreation purposes and programs. Unfortunately, the LWCF is once again under attack. The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget request calls for a 90% reduction of LWCF funding and including the diversion of $387 million in conservation funds to maintenance projects. This breaks the promise of GAOA and puts many conservation projects across the country at risk.
The House Subcommittee marked up the fiscal year 2026 Interior, Environmental Protection and related agencies’ appropriations bills. On the good news side, it funds LWCF at $900 million and requires the agencies to spend it as Congress has directed and in line with current law. The bill must still go through the full appropriations committee and pass out of the House, but this is great news for the LWCF and conservation.
The Senate is starting to move appropriations bills. Therefore, LTA is asking land trusts to sign onto the LWCF support letter. In addition, please reach out directly to your senators to voice your strong support for protecting the LWCF in the FY2026 appropriations bill.