U.S. Department of Interior
U.S. Government: Agencies/Departments/Divisions | Federal Agencies
Recent News About U.S. Department of Interior
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On August 9, 2024, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland affirmed the designation of Independence Creek Preserve in west Texas as the nation’s newest National Natural Landmark. This nearly 20,000-acre Chihuahuan Desert preserve is protected and managed by The Nature Conservancy.
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PHOENIX — Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis announced the distribution of $325 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Stateside Assistance Program to all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia. This marks the largest annual distribution from the program since 1979. Investments from the LWCF support the Biden-Harris administration’s America the Beautiful initiative by funding locally led outdoor recreation and conservation projects.
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The Department of the Interior announced nearly $7 million through the Indian Youth Services Corps (IYSC) for Indigenous-led conservation projects across the nation. The IYSC, launched by Secretary Deb Haaland in 2022, is a partnership-based program providing education, jobs, and training opportunities to Indigenous youth through conservation projects on public and Tribal lands, and Hawaiian homelands. This funding aims to advance the American Climate Corps, part of the Biden-Harris administration’s effort to empower a diverse generation to address climate issues and join the...
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The Department of the Interior has announced a $46.7 million investment through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program to support the redevelopment or creation of 10 local parks across various U.S. cities. The funding will benefit communities in Tucson, Arizona; Porterville, California; Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City, Missouri; New Brunswick, New Jersey; Garner and Raleigh, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; and Houston, Texas.
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The Department of the Interior has announced a nearly $105 million investment as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, aimed at enhancing drought resilience through 67 water conservation and efficiency projects nationwide. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations.
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The Department of the Interior announced $52 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Colorado, Illinois, and West Virginia to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells. These investments aim to address hazardous sites, create union jobs, catalyze economic growth, protect public health and the environment from methane leaks, and advance environmental justice.
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On Sunday, August 4, the Department of the Interior will commemorate the four-year anniversary of the signing of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by waiving entrance fees at all lands managed by the Department. Other fees, such as overnight camping, cabin rentals, group day use and use of special areas, remain in effect. The GAOA is a bipartisan investment that improves visitor experiences, bolsters climate resilience and invests in the economy by creating good-paying jobs in national parks, wildlife refuges, recreation areas and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded...
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WASHINGTON — After experiencing mild symptoms, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland tested positive for COVID-19 today. The Secretary is fully vaccinated and boosted and encourages everyone to stay current on their vaccinations so that, if they are exposed, they too will have milder symptoms. Secretary Haaland is isolating and working remotely.
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The Department of the Interior announced significant advancements in the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, launched in June 2021 by Secretary Deb Haaland. This initiative represents the federal government's first comprehensive effort to acknowledge and address the legacy of past federal Indian boarding school policies and their intergenerational impact on Indigenous communities.
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The Department of the Interior announced a $20 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to enhance climate resilience in Hawaiʻi. The funding will be allocated to 17 Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) for restoring native ecosystems, enhancing food security, and incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and practices.
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JAKARTA, Indonesia — Assistant Secretary Carmen G. Cantor concluded a multi-day trip to Thailand and Indonesia on Friday, reaffirming the Department of the Interior’s conservation partnerships across Southeast Asia. The visit emphasized the Department’s long-term commitment to the region through the International Technical Assistance Program (DOI-ITAP), investments in wildlife conservation and protected areas, and collaborations with regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today applauded the selection of the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The list highlights cultural and natural heritage sites around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
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The Department of the Interior announced that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is advancing nine solar projects on public lands, which could potentially power nearly 2 million homes with clean energy. These projects align with President Biden’s objective of creating a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035.
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The Departments of the Interior and Commerce announced a $240 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support fish hatcheries producing Pacific salmon and steelhead. This move emphasizes the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to empowering Tribal Nations and fulfilling federal trust and treaty responsibilities. Fish hatcheries in the Pacific Northwest play a vital role in providing subsistence, ceremonial, and economic benefits for Tribal communities, as well as upholding Treaty-reserved fishing rights. The Interior Department’s Bureau...
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TOPPENISH, Wash. — Secretary Haaland concluded a multi-day visit to Washington state to highlight progress in implementing President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The initiative aims to protect communities from wildland fires and severe drought, restore ecosystems, and strengthen Tribal communities.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management Dr. Steve Feldgus traveled to Alabama today to announce more than $20.4 million in fiscal year 2023 funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to address dangerous and polluting abandoned mine lands (AML), create good-paying, family-sustaining jobs, and catalyze economic opportunity in Alabama.
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The Biden-Harris administration has announced new measures to enhance wildfire detection using satellite technology. The Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Forest Service have signed an agreement with the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to utilize data from NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite — R series (GOES-R) for rapid wildfire detection and reporting. This initiative is backed by a $20 million investment from the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with $10...
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The Department of the Interior has announced a funding opportunity under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for ecosystem and habitat restoration projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin. These funds aim to increase community and landscape resiliency while restoring habitats and assisting in species recovery. The Bureau of Reclamation will allocate these funds, made available through the Inflation Reduction Act, for use in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
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ANCHORAGE — Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland concluded a multi-day visit to Alaska today, as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s fifth Investing in America tour. The visit aimed to highlight how resources from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda are enhancing climate resiliency, advancing salmon conservation, and strengthening local economies in Alaska. This marks Secretary Haaland's fourth trip to Alaska since assuming her role.
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BOSTON — Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior Laura Daniel-Davis traveled to Massachusetts this week to highlight investments from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). These investments are enabling the Interior Department to deploy unprecedented funding to address overdue maintenance and repairs and meet critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs.