Interior Department changing conservation funding rules, what it can go toward and who can participate
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is making changes to a popular conservation program in ways that have some environmental groups crying foul. In a secretarial order, Burgum is limiting how much money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund can be used. The order prioritizes acquisitions for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service, which will have the result of discouraging land acquisition for the Bureau of Land Management. It also calls for the selling of federal lands to states, requires a state’s governor and local leaders to agree to any federal LWCF acquisitions, and would limit the ability of non-profits to participate.
Other public land news:
- The Hill: Trump proposes to revoke Biden-era rule that aimed to conserve more public lands
- E&E News by Politico: Interior moves to kill Biden public lands rule
- U.S. Department of the Interior: News release: Interior proposes to rescind public lands rule, restoring balanced, multiple-use management
