Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
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 schools.
Each year, Interior Department GAOA projects support an average of 17,000 jobs and contribute an average of $1.9 billion to the economy, benefiting urban, suburban, and rural areas across the nation. Since its initial implementation in 2021, the Department has funded 326 projects across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and multiple U.S. territories, with 83 proposed projects for fiscal year 2025.
“The Great American Outdoors Act has allowed the Interior Department to tackle long-deferred infrastructure needs that will support communities in every corner of the nation long into the future,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “From coast to coast, this historic law is making improvements that are benefiting millions of visitors who visit our incredible public lands through enhanced visitor experiences, better access and improved safety. Coupled with the President’s Investing in America agenda, we are making lasting changes that will last for generations.”
The GAOA established the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (GAOA LRF) to provide deferred maintenance and repairs at critical facilities on public lands and at BIE-funded schools. At no additional cost to taxpayers, it provides $1.6 billion per year for projects at recreation facilities; dams; water and utility infrastructure; schools; and other historic structures. Other projects increase public access by improving accessibility features and restoring roads, trails, bridges and parking areas. The funding sunsets after fiscal year 2025 and would need reauthorization by Congress to continue addressing significant infrastructure needs across public lands.
GAOA projects are improving assets that visitors rely on every time they visit public lands. Nearly half of GAOA LRF projects are enhancing Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility. Projects also help provide safer working environments for staff by repairing housing facilities.
Through GAOA funding Maintenance Action Teams—groups of federal employees mobilizing regionally—are providing training opportunities to youth through construction-related activities.
The law also helps uphold commitments to Indigenous communities with nearly 2,300 students benefiting from improvements to BIE-funded schools annually.
In addition to funding deferred maintenance projects under GAOA LRF provisions full funding for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is provided at $900 million annually since its inception in 1965 LWCF has funded $6.1 billion supporting more than 46k+projects nationwide safeguarding natural areas cultural heritage recreational opportunities alike
Visit Interior’s Great American Outdoors Act website for more information about ongoing improvements
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