Simpson, Cole at FY27 Interior and Environment Subcommittee Markup

May 21, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee met to consider its Fiscal Year 2027 bill. The measure was approved by the Subcommittee.

Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID) said, "We continue to fully fund the Payments in Lieu of Taxes program, which provides payments to nearly every State in the country for certain tax-exempt federal lands. The bill also supports the Administration’s proposal to streamline firefighting activities throughout the Department of the Interior through the establishment of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service. The bill continues support for federal wildland firefighters and provides additional funding to support firefighter pay, helping improve recruitment and retention, and giving financial certainty to the men and women protecting our communities from catastrophic wildfires. Given these priorities, the bill makes fiscally responsible reductions to most other appropriations. For example, the EPA is cut by nearly $1.8 billion – or 20 percent – below the enacted level. The bill continues to fund grants that go directly to States and Tribes for water infrastructure projects and to help fulfill their delegated authority under federal laws like the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. These programs are important for issuing permits for continued development and economic growth."

Full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available here.

Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, "The measure before us marks a focus on effective stewardship – one where we manage our lands responsibly, unleash domestic energy, strengthen wildfire response, and ensure agencies are focused on core missions. To fulfill those objectives, we provide critical and targeted funding to the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Forest Service – with investments reinforcing America’s natural, cultural, and environmental resources. Importantly, this bill also reflects our commitment to honoring and upholding our sacred trust and treaty oaths to protect Native American communities. I’m proud that the legislation prioritizes funding for the accounts that deliver critical services to Indian Country. Building on our work from last year, we are again enhancing resources for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, and the Indian Health Service. Because delivering better outcomes for Tribal communities strengthens our nation and supports long-term stability. I appreciate Chairman Simpson’s commonsense approach to directing funding to the initiatives that connect our communities, grow opportunity, and reinforce our way of life."

Full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are available here.

Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $38.9 billion. The bill prioritizes unleashing American energy and rightsizing agency funding levels, including a $1.8 billion reduction (20%) to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The bill fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, estimated at $650 million, and prioritizes funding for Tribes and wildland fire.

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 land withdrawals and reinstating mineral leases in the Superior National Forest.
Promoting domestic mining by ensuring ancillary mining activities can be approved, fixing the Rosemont decision that created additional red tape and regulatory uncertainty for mining operations.
Prohibiting funds for the National Park Service to provide housing to an illegal alien without lawful status.
Providing $774.84 million for Tribal Public Safety and Justice programs, which is a 36% increase over the FY26 enacted level, to combat drug trafficking while preventing and solving violent crimes.
Providing the requested increase of $134 million for National Park Service Park Protection, which includes targeted funding for the U.S. Park Police to boost the force’s capacity in the D.C. area consistent with Executive Order 14252, Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful.

Champions American energy dominance and reduces regulatory burdens by:

Providing the requested increase for onshore oil and gas development at the Bureau of Land Management.
Affirming efforts to responsibly develop Alaska’s energy potential, reducing reliance on foreign oil and advancing Executive Order 14153, Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.
Providing the requested increase for offshore critical mineral leasing to advance Executive Order 14285, Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.
Prohibiting the use of the social cost of carbon, which has stymied new development.
Prohibiting multiple U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rulings used to weaponize the Endangered Species Act against land users and energy producers.
Addressing the harmful impacts of the Cottonwood decision to improve forest management.

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

Unifying firefighting activities across the Department of the Interior, implementing the Administration’s proposal to create the U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
Supporting the Administration’s request to implement the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024.
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 by 20%.
Prohibiting funding for regulating emissions from manure management systems or livestock production.
Blocking funding for the Presidio Trust.

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.

A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.

###