Refuge Association Praises Bipartisan Deal Protecting Wildlife Refuges from Deep Cuts

For Immediate Release January 8th, 2025
Contact: Eden Taylor etaylor@refugeassociation.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The National Wildlife Refuge Association today praised a bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Interior appropriations bill that rejects the Administration’s proposed deep cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge System and preserves essential funding for America’s public lands and waters.

“This bipartisan agreement prevents devastating cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge System at a time when these lands can least afford them,” said Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President & CEO of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “While the budget remains tight, this bill helps keep refuges open, operational, and protected for wildlife and the communities that depend on them.”

The legislation, which is anticipated to be voted on this week, would reduce Refuge System funding by about 1%—from $527 million to $522 million—far less than the reductions proposed by the Administration.

The bill also fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund and maintains support for key conservation programs such as Visitor Services (including the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program and Youth and Careers in Nature), Marine National Monuments, Refuge Construction account, the Refuge Fund, the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund, and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. It also importantly provides a $1 million increase for Refuge System law enforcement.

The Refuge Association would like to thank the Interior Appropriations Chairs and Ranking Members - Senator Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Merkley (D-OR), Congressman Simpson (R-ID) and Congresswoman Pingree (D-ME) for their bipartisan leadership and we urge Congress and the President to pass and sign the bill.