Committee Releases FY26 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

July 14, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2026 bill for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, July 15th at 10:00 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.

Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson said, “As Congress works to rein in unnecessary spending and restore fiscal responsibility, the House Appropriations Committee remains committed to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly and efficiently. The Fiscal Year 2026 Interior and Environment Appropriations Act does just that by right-sizing federal agencies, promoting domestic energy and mineral production, and reversing harmful Biden-era policies. Among many provisions, I am pleased that this bill protects important programs that states and local communities rely on, like the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, critical investments in Indian Country, and Wildland Fire Management. I thank Chairman Cole for his leadership and look forward to getting this bill across the finish line.”

Chairman Tom Cole said, “This bill reflects strong stewardship of America’s natural and financial resources. It directs the management of our public lands, recreation, and energy development while cutting millions in wasteful spending. It prioritizes undoing costly, burdensome Biden-era regulations to protect U.S. jobs and promote growth. I am also proud that this legislation safeguards the sacred oath our nation made to protect Native American communities. Chairman Simpson’s approach honors both our commitment to preserve America’s natural heritage and our duty to ensure a strong, sustainable, and fiscally responsible future.”

Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $37.971 billion, which is $2.54 billion (6%) below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level and prioritizes unleashing American energy, defunding Biden-era rulemakings that have hamstrung farmers and industry, and rightsizing agency funding levels, including a $2.1 billion reduction (23%) to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The bill fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, estimated at $550 million, and prioritizes funding for Tribes and Wildland Fire Management.

Key Takeaways

Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:

Reducing our reliance on foreign countries for critical minerals by promoting access to resources here at home through blocking certain lease withdrawals in Minnesota and reinstating mineral leases in the Superior National Forest.
Promoting domestic mining by ensuring ancillary mining activities can be approved, which is a fix to the Rosemont decision that created additional red tape and regulatory uncertainty for mining operations.
Ensuring chemical and pesticide manufacturers are not overburdened with requirements that would drive businesses overseas and threaten American competitiveness.
Prohibiting funds for the National Park Service to provide housing to an alien without lawful status.
Providing $771.84 million for Tribal Public Safety and Justice programs, which is a 39% increase over the FY25 enacted level.

Champions American energy dominance and reduces regulatory burdens by:

Providing the OMB requested increase of $13.6 million for offshore oil and gas development at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the OMB requested increase of $15 million for onshore oil and gas development at the Bureau of Land Management.
Requiring the Secretary of the Interior to conduct onshore and offshore oil and gas lease sales.
Prohibiting the use of the social cost of carbon, which has stymied new development.
Prohibiting the EPA from imposing the methane fee on oil and gas producers created by the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act.
Prohibiting multiple U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rulings used to weaponize the Endangered Species Act against land users and energy producers.
Stopping the Biden Administration’s 30x30 initiative to ensure access to federal lands for mineral exploration and development.
Addressing the harmful impacts of the Cottonwood decision to improve forest management.

Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by:

Prohibiting the use of funds to promote or advance critical race theory.
Prohibiting the use of funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion training or implementation.
Prohibiting funds for moral conviction discriminatory action.
Providing no funds for the American Climate Corps, eco-grief training, or environmental justice activities.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by:

Reducing funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by 23%.
Realizing DOGE savings by eliminating the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation (ONHIR).
Eliminating funding for the Presidio Trust in San Francisco, California.
Blocking Biden-era regulations that were imposing costs on American families and industry such as:
- EPA’s car emission regulations on light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles;
- EPA’s Clean Power Plan 2.0; and
- Regulatory overreach regarding ozone emissions.

Protects access to public lands by:

Blocking restrictions on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands.
Preventing additional regulations on ammunition, ammunition components, or fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act or any other law.
Prohibiting restrictions on where standard lead ammunition and fishing tackle can be used on certain federal lands or waters unless conditions are met.
Stopping the Bureau of Land Management’s Conservation and Landscape Health rule to ensure continued access to public lands for grazing, recreation, and energy development.

A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.

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