The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act with a vote of 82-15. The House of Representatives passed the bill last week by a margin of 397 to 28. The legislation allocates $38.6 billion in discretionary spending for a range of programs, including support for tribal initiatives, National Parks, public lands management, and federal wildfire suppression efforts. The bill will now be sent to the President for signature.
Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Appropriations Committee, stated: “From programs geared toward providing clean drinking water and wastewater assistance to those that support the conservation and management of our national parks and public lands, this bill invests in an array of important initiatives. The legislation also funds important tribal programs and wildfire suppression.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Chair of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, added: “I am proud of the bipartisan and thoughtful work that went into the Interior-Environmental Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Act, alongside Ranking Member, Senator Jeff Merkley. This legislation fulfills our commitments to tribes while balancing energy production, conservation, and recreation. It also supports our public lands while providing for clean air, clean water, and clean soil. My thanks go to Chair Susan Collins and Vice-Chair Patty Murray for keeping this vital Appropriations process moving forward in a bipartisan manner.”
Key funding provisions include $15 billion for the Department of the Interior to manage National Parks and wildlife refuges as well as oversee conservation efforts on public lands and waters. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to receive $8.8 billion in grants and program funding; this includes $2.8 billion dedicated to Clean Water and Drinking Water Revolving Funds.
The U.S. Forest Service will get $8.6 billion in funding with allocations such as $10 million aimed at mitigating Spruce Budworm infestations. There is also continued support for Cooperative Fire Assistance programs and $6 million directed toward the Northeastern States Research Cooperative.
Indian Health Services will receive $8.1 billion to cover new facility staffing needs and health care delivery services; contract support costs (CSC) and tribal lease payments are fully funded with advanced appropriations maintained.
Other cultural institutions supported by this bill include the Smithsonian Institution and the Holocaust Museum with combined funding totaling $1.1 billion; part of these funds will help expand educational opportunities at the Holocaust Museum.
Additionally, both the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are allocated $207 million each.
