WASHINGTON, June 4, 2024 — The Departments of Agriculture and the Interior have announced a proposed investment of $2.8 billion for fiscal year 2025 through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to protect public lands and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-funded schools. Projects are planned across all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and multiple U.S. territories.
In August 2020, GAOA established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), authorizing up to $1.9 billion per year from fiscal year 2021 through 2025. GAOA LRF funding addresses overdue maintenance needs for critical facilities and infrastructure in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, recreation areas, and BIE-funded schools. Additionally, GAOA provides permanent full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually to secure public access and improve recreation opportunities on public lands.
Investments from GAOA align with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to strengthen infrastructure and prepare it for future needs. These investments aim to enable equitable access to outdoor spaces and meet commitments outlined in the America the Beautiful initiative, which supports efforts to restore and conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
“The Great American Outdoors Act has enabled the Forest Service to begin addressing our $8.6 billion deferred maintenance backlog,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These investments in Forest Service infrastructure demonstrate the agency’s commitment to caring for the land and serving people.”
“Addressing long-delayed maintenance needs allows safe access to outdoor spaces, creates jobs, and preserves our natural heritage,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. “Working together with state, local, and Tribal governments ensures that every community has access to nature.”
For fiscal year 2025, the Department of the Interior has proposed 83 GAOA LRF projects while the Department of Agriculture has proposed 89 bundled projects across all states, D.C., and four territories to improve various infrastructures including recreation facilities and BIE-funded schools.
These projects are expected to support over 20,000 jobs and contribute more than $2.5 billion to the economy.
The fiscal year 2025 budget allocates $900 million for LWCF projects managed by both departments. This includes funds for federal land acquisition programs as well as state and local grants.
The Department of the Interior will allocate significant funds towards mandatory funded LWCF programs including land acquisition projects aimed at protecting natural resources while increasing outdoor recreation access.
An additional portion will support locally driven conservation efforts through National Park Service formula grants among others.
A new Tribal LWCF Land Acquisition program is also proposed with an allocation of $8 million enabling Tribes' participation in conservation efforts directly.
In Fiscal Year 2025 USDA Forest Service proposes substantial funding towards Forest Legacy Program projects as well as Land Acquisition Program projects advancing President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aimed at benefiting disadvantaged communities.
