US Subcommittee on Federal Lands Chair, Tom Tiffany, criticized President Biden's FY25 budget request, stating, "To no surprise, President Biden’s FY25 budget request caters to green lobby radicals, fails to address the environmental degradation from illegal immigration, and puts the American people on the back burner. Americans." Tiffany, set to face Republican challenger Cheryl Ann Runkel in the Wisconsin primary, further added that "it’s time that this administration drops the partisan politics and does what’s best for the communities, families, and small businesses that live and operate closest to our federal lands."
"To no surprise, President Biden's FY25 budget request caters to green lobby radicals, fails to address the environmental degradation from illegal immigration, and puts the American people on the back burner," said U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wi), according to House Committee on Natural Resources. "Americans depend on access to federal lands for their way of life, and it's time that this administration drops the partisan politics and does what's best for the communities, families, and small businesses that live and operate closest to our federal lands."
According to a March 11 news release announcing the budget allocation, The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has requested a budget of approximately $1.6 billion. This funding would be used to improve climate resilience and conservation partnerships. It also aims to conserve, connect, and restore 30% of land and water by 2030. Furthermore, $53.1 million would be directed towards the Renewable Energy Management program to support increasing demand for renewable energy projects and transmission lines on BLM lands. The funding would also create jobs and hire workers for cleaning up abandoned mine lands and hazardous materials.
The same news release detailed how this funding will enable BLM to strengthen climate resilience and conservation partnerships; accelerate responsible development of renewable energy on public lands; and create good-paying jobs.
The National Park Service (NPS) budget request stands at $3.57 billion according to the same March 11 news release. The NPS plans to allocate more than $100 million in housing needs for NPS employees across fund sources; continued start-up costs for parks added to the National Park System; construction, equipment replacement and management; national recreation and preservation; as well as the historic preservation fund among other elements.
However, a news release from the Subcommittee for Federal Lands highlighted issues with both budget requests. Concerning BLM's proposal, it was noted that conservationist policies restrict access, hurt local economies and remove uses of public lands. Additionally, the committee criticized the lack of a plan for areas along the US-Mexico border.
In relation to the NPS budget, the Subcommittee stated that the Biden administration "has abused our federal lands to cover for their border policy failures." They cited the migrant encampment at Floyd Bennett Field as an example of how this administration has made it harder for New York City residents to access federal lands. The committee also mentioned cuts to programs that improve access to parks and reduced funding for deferred maintenance backlog.
