Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:
June 28, 2021
Overview of FY2021 Appropriations
Carol Hardy Vincent
The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bil contains funding
Specialist in Natural
for three dozen agencies and entities. They include most of the Department of the
Resources Policy
Interior (DOI) as wel as agencies within other departments, such as the Forest Service

within the Department of Agriculture and the Indian Health Service within the

Department of Health and Human Services. The bil also provides funding for the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), arts and cultural agencies, and other organizations and entities. Issues
for Congress included determining the amount, terms, and conditions of funding for agencies and programs.
P.L. 116-260, enacted on December 27, 2020, contained $38.52 bil ion for FY2021 for Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies (in Division G). This total included $36.17 bil ion in regular appropriations and $2.35 bil ion for
wildfire suppression under a discretionary cap adjustment. Earlier, President Trump’s request, a House-passed
bil , and a Senate Appropriations Committee majority draft bil al supported this wildfire suppression adjustment;
it consisted of $2.04 bil ion for the Forest Service and $310.0 mil ion for DOI.
Of the $38.52 bil ion enacted for FY2021, the 11 major DOI agencies in Title I of the law received $13.72 bil ion,
or 35.6% of the total. For EPA, funded in Title II, the FY2021 law contained $9.24 bil ion, or 24.0% of the total.
For the 24 agencies and other entities funded in Title III (“related agencies”), the FY2021 law provided $15.56
bil ion, or 40.4% of the total. Overal , nearly three-quarters of the $38.52 bil ion was for five agencies: EPA,
Forest Service, Indian Health Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The FY2021 enacted total was $2.19 bil ion (5.4%) lower than the FY2020 enacted total of $40.72 bil ion, which
included $2.41 bil ion in emergency supplemental appropriations for coronavirus preparedness and response and
activities related to the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement. However, the FY2021 enacted total was
$0.2 mil ion (0.6%) higher than the FY2020 enacted regular appropriation of $38.30 bil ion (in P.L. 116-94,
Division D).
The FY2021 enacted total was $4.46 bil ion (13.1%) higher than President Trump’s FY2021 request of $34.07
bil ion. Many agencies in the bil received higher enacted appropriations than President Trump requested,
including the EPA, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Education, and Bureau of
Indian Affairs. Of the $34.07 bil ion requested, President Trump had sought the following amounts: for DOI
agencies, $12.05 bil ion, or 35.4% of the total requested; for EPA, $6.70 bil ion, or 19.7% of the total requested;
and for the related agencies in Title III of the bil , $15.31 bil ion, or 44.9% of the total.
Prior to enactment of P.L. 116-260, the House had passed an earlier FY2021 Interior appropriations bil . H.R.
7608, as passed by the House on July 24, 2020, contained $54.67 bil ion (in Division C) for agencies in the
Interior bil . This total included $39.17 bil ion in annual appropriations and $15.50 bil ion in emergency
appropriations for additional infrastructure investments of three agencies (EPA, the Indian Health Service, and the
Bureau of Indian Affairs). The FY2021 enacted appropriations law did not include this infrastructure funding. To
further negotiations between the House and the Senate, on November 10, 2020, the chair of the Senate Committee
on Appropriations released a draft Interior bil along with a draft accompanying explanatory statement. This
Senate Appropriations Committee majority draft bil contained $38.22 bil ion in annual appropriations .

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, by Major Title, FY2020-FY2021

Source: Prepared by the Congressional Research Service with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
Notes: The FY2020 regular appropriation in P.L. 116-94 also contained a $1.0 mil ion rescission in Title IV (General Provisions).
The FY2020 enacted total reflects $2.41 bil ion in emergency supplemental appropriations for several agencies for coronavirus and
other purposes. This emergency supplemental money was contained in three laws: P.L. 116-113 ($308.0 mil ion), P.L. 116-127 ($64.0
mil ion), and P.L. 116-136 ($2.04 bil ion). The FY2021 request also included $4.0 mil ion in Title IV (General Provisions). The FY2021
regular appropriation was contained in P.L. 116-260.

Congressional Research Service

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Introduction
Content of Report
This report focuses on FY2021 discretionary appropriations for Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies.1 Issues for Congress included determining the amount of funding for agencies
and programs in the bil and the terms and conditions of such funding.
This report first presents a short overview of FY2021 legislative action. It next provides an
overview of the agencies and other entities funded in the Interior bil . It then describes the
appropriations requested by President Trump for FY2021 for Interior, Environment, and Related
Agencies and the appropriations enacted for FY2021. Subsequently, the report briefly compares
the total appropriations enacted for FY2020,2 requested by President Trump for FY2021, and
enacted for FY2021. Final y, it provides a table showing each agency’s appropriations enacted for
FY2020, requested for FY2021, and enacted for FY2021.
Appropriations are complex. Budget justifications for some agencies are large (often a few
hundred pages long) and contain numerous funding, programmatic, and legislative changes for
congressional consideration. Further, appropriations laws provide funds for numerous accounts,
activities, and sub-activities, and their accompanying explanatory statements provide additional
directives and other important information. This report does not provide in-depth information at
the agency, account, and subaccount levels, nor does it general y detail budgetary reorganizations
or legislative changes enacted in law or proposed for FY2021. For information on a particular
agency or on individual accounts, programs, or activities administered by a particular agency, see
the CRS products footnoted throughout this report or contact the key policy staff listed at the end
of this report. In addition, selected reports related to appropriations for Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies, such as individual agencies (e.g., National Park Service) or cross-cutting
programs (e.g., Wildland Fire Management), are listed under “Interior & Environment
Appropriations” on the “Appropriations” Issue Area page on the Congressional Research Service
(CRS) website.3
Overview of FY2021 Legislative Action
For FY2021, President Trump sought $34.07 bil ion for agencies in the Interior bil , including
$31.72 bil ion in regular appropriations and $2.35 bil ion for wildfire suppression under a

1 Hereinafter, the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill is sometimes referred to as
the Interior bill. Many of the agencies that receive discretionary appropriations through the Interior bill also receive
mandatory appropriations under various authorizing statutes. T his report does not address mandatory appropriations.
For information on mandatory appropriations of the four main federal land management agencies—Bureau of Land
Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Park Service—see CRS Report R45994, Federal
Land Management Agencies’ Mandatory Appropriations Accounts, coordinated by Carol Hardy Vincent .
2 Regular appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies for FY2020 were included in Division D of
P.L. 116-94, the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2 020. Emergency supplemental appropriations for Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies for FY2020 were included in three laws: P.L. 116-113, T itle IX of the United
States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act; P.L. 116-127, Division A of the Families First Coronavirus
Response Act; and P.L. 116-136, Division B, T itle VII of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
(CARES Act).
3 T he “Interior & Environment Appropriations” subissue page is on the CRS website at https://www.crs.gov/iap/
appropriations.
Congressional Research Service

1

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

discretionary cap adjustment.4 These additional wildfire funds essential y are exempt from
discretionary spending limits.
On July 14, 2020, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 7612 (accompanied by
H.Rept. 116-448). As reported by the committee, H.R. 7612 contained $54.17 bil ion for Interior,
Environment, and Related Agencies. More specifical y, the reported bil contained $39.17 bil ion,
composed of $36.82 in regular appropriations and $2.35 bil ion for wildfire suppression under the
discretionary cap adjustment, and $15.0 bil ion in emergency appropriations for additional
infrastructure investments in a proposed new Title V.
Subsequently, on July 24, 2020, the House passed H.R. 7608, containing FY2021 appropriations
of $54.67 bil ion (in Division C) for agencies in the Interior bil . This total included $39.17
bil ion in annual appropriations, composed of $36.82 bil ion in regular appropriations and $2.35
bil ion as requested by President Trump for wildfire suppression under the cap adjustment. A
proposed new Title V included $15.50 bil ion in emergency appropriations for additional
infrastructure investments of three agencies: the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, $13.50
bil ion), the Indian Health Service ($1.50 bil ion), and the Bureau of Indian Affairs ($0.50
bil ion).5 Among other activities, the funds would have been used for the following purposes. For
EPA, funds would have been directed to State and Tribal Assistance Grants, including for the
Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds; the Hazardous Substance Superfund
program, including cleanup activities; and the Office of Inspector General. For the Indian Health
Service, monies would have been used for health facilities construction, maintenance and
improvements, and equipment. For the Bureau of Indian Education, funding would have been
provided for education construction general y, to include construction, repair, and improvement of
schools, utilities, and other facilities. Al Title V funds would have been available for multiple
years, with most of the funds available until expended.
On November 10, 2020, the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations released a draft
Interior bil along with a draft accompanying explanatory statement.6 The release of the draft bill
facilitated further negotiations between the House and the Senate.7 This Senate Appropriations
Committee majority draft bil contained $38.22 bil ion in annual appropriations, composed of
$35.87 bil ion in regular appropriations and $2.35 bil ion as requested for wildfire suppression
under the cap adjustment.

4 Under Division O of P.L. 115-141, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, an adjustment can be made to
discretionary spending limits to accommodate enacted funding for wildfire suppression. T he adjustment may not
exceed specified amounts for each of FY2020 -FY2027. For information on discretionary spending limits, see CRS In
Focus IF10647, The Budget Resolution and the Budget Control Act’s Discretionary Spending Lim its, by Megan S.
Lynch; CRS Report R44874, The Budget Control Act: Frequently Asked Questions, by Grant A. Driessen and Megan
S. Lynch; and CRS Report R45778, Exceptions to the Budget Control Act’s Discretionary Spending Lim its, by Megan
S. Lynch, especially p. 8. For a discussion of the cap adjustment for wildfire suppression, see CRS In Focus IF11675,
Wildfire Managem ent Funding: FY2021 Appropriations, by Katie Hoover, and CRS Report R46583, Federal Wildfire
Managem ent: Ten-Year Funding Trends and Issues (FY2011 -FY2020), by Katie Hoover.
5 T he primary difference between H.R. 7612 as reported and H.R. 7608 as passed was an additional $0.50 billion for
infrastructure investments of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in H.R. 7608.
6 T he draft bill and explanatory statement are on the committee’s website linked to the majority press release at
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/committee-releases-fy21-bills-in-effort-to-advance-process-produce-
bipartisan-results.
7 Ibid. See also the statement from the Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Senator Patrick Leahy at
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/senate-approps-vice-chair-leahy-statement-on-the-release-of-the-
fy-2021-senate-appropriations-bills-.
Congressional Research Service

2

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

P.L. 116-260, enacted on December 27, 2020, contained $38.52 bil ion for Interior, Environment,
and Related Agencies (in Division G). This total included $36.17 bil ion in regular appropriations
and $2.35 bil ion for wildfire suppression under the discretionary cap adjustment. The law did not
include emergency appropriations for additional infrastructure investments as had been approved
earlier by the House in H.R. 7608.
Overview of Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies
The annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bil includes funding and
other provisions for agencies and programs in three federal departments and for numerous related
agencies. The Interior bil typical y contains three primary appropriations titles and a fourth title
with general provisions. Title I provides funding for most Department of the Interior (DOI)
agencies,8 many of which manage land and other natural resource or regulatory programs. Title I
also typical y includes general provisions related to DOI agencies. Title II contains appropriations
and administrative provisions for EPA. Title III, Related Agencies, currently funds 24 agencies in
other departments, such as the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture and the Indian
Health Service in the Department of Health and Human Services; arts and cultural agencies,
including the Smithsonian Institution; and various other organizations and entities. Title III also
contains administrative provisions for some agencies funded therein. Title IV, General Provisions,
typical y contains additional guidance and direction for agencies in the bil . Selected major
agencies in the Interior bil are briefly described below.
Title I. Department of the Interior9
DOI’s mission is to conserve and manage the nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage;
provide scientific and other information about those resources and natural hazards; and exercise
trust responsibilities and other commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated
island communities.10 There are nine DOI agencies and two other broad accounts funded in the
Interior bil that carry out this mission. Hereinafter, these 11 agencies and broad accounts are
referred to collectively as the DOI “agencies.” The DOI agencies and their functions funded in
the Interior bil include the following:
 The Bureau of Land Management administers about 244 mil ion acres of federal
public land, mostly in the West, for diverse uses such as energy and mineral
development, livestock grazing, recreation, and preservation. The agency also is
responsible for more than 700 mil ion acres of federal onshore subsurface
mineral estate throughout the nation and supervises the mineral operations on
about 60 mil ion acres of Indian trust lands.11

8 T he exceptions are the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project, which receive appropriations through
Energy and Water Development appropriations laws. For information on FY2021 appropriations for these entities, see
CRS Report R46384, Energy and Water Developm ent: FY2021 Appropriations, by Mark Holt and Corrie E. Clark.
9 For additional background on the Department of the Interior (DOI) and its agencies, see CRS Report R45480, U.S.
Departm ent of the Interior: An Overview, by Mark K. DeSantis.
10 T his statement is taken from the DOI website at https://www.doi.gov/abouthttps://www.doi.gov/whoweare.
11 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Land Management, see CRS In Focus IF11590, Bureau
of Land Managem ent: FY2021 Appropriations, by Carol Hardy Vincent .
Congressional Research Service

3

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers 89 mil ion acres of federal land
within the National Wildlife Refuge System and other areas,12 including 77
mil ion acres in Alaska. It also manages several large marine refuges and marine
national monuments, sometimes jointly with other federal agencies. In addition,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, together with the National Marine Fisheries
Service (Department of Commerce), is responsible for implementing the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. §§1531 et seq.); promoting wildlife habitat;
enforcing federal wildlife laws; supporting wildlife and ecosystem science;
conserving migratory birds; administering grants to aid state fish and wildlife
programs; and coordinating with state, international, and other federal agencies
on fish and wildlife issues.13
 The National Park Service administers 80 mil ion acres of federal land within the
National Park System, including 423 separate units in the 50 states, District of
Columbia, and U.S. territories. Roughly two-thirds of the system’s lands are in
Alaska. The National Park Service has a dual mission—to preserve unique
resources and to provide for their enjoyment by the public. The agency also
supports and promotes some resource conservation activities outside the National
Park System through grant and technical assistance programs and cooperation
with partners.14
 The U.S. Geological Survey is a science agency that provides physical and
biological information related to geological resources; natural hazards; climate
and land use change; and energy, mineral, water, and biological sciences and
resources. In addition, it is the federal government’s principal civilian mapping
agency (e.g., topographical and geological mapping) and a primary source of data
on the quantity and quality of the nation’s water resources (e.g., streamgaging).15
 The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management manages development of the nation’s
offshore conventional and renewable energy resources in the Atlantic, the Pacific,
the Gulf of Mexico, and the Arctic. These resources are located in areas covering
approximately 1.7 bil ion acres located beyond state waters, mostly in the Alaska
region (more than 1 bil ion acres) but also off al coastal states.16
 The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement provides regulatory and
safety oversight for resource development in the outer continental shelf. Among

12 T his is the acreage over which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has primary jurisdiction in the United States and
the territories. T he figure excludes acreage in marine national monuments over which the agency also has jurisdiction.
13 For additional information on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, see CRS Report R45265, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service: An Overview, by R. Eliot Crafton. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, see CRS In Focus IF11470, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2021 Appropriations, by R. Eliot Crafton.
14 For a discussion of the different types of national park units and an overview of their management, see CRS Report
R41816, National Park System : What Do the Different Park Titles Signify? , by Laura B. Comay. For an overview of
FY2021 appropriations for the National Park Service, see CRS In Focus IF11661, National Park Service: FY2021
Appropriations, by Laura B. Comay. For an overview of National Park Service appropriations in recent years, see CRS
Report R42757, National Park Service Appropriations: Ten -Year Trends, by Laura B. Comay.
15 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the U.S. Geological Survey, see CRS In Focus IF11433, The U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS): FY2021 Appropriations Process and Background , by Anna E. Normand.
16 For a discussion of state and federal waters, see CRS Report RL33404, Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal
Fram ework, by Adam Vann. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Ocean Ene rgy Management,
see CRS In Focus IF11752, Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2021 , by Laura B. Comay.
Congressional Research Service

4

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

its responsibilities are oil and gas permitting, facility inspections, environmental
compliance, and oil spil response planning.17
 The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement works with states
and tribes to reclaim abandoned coal mining sites. The agency also regulates
active coal mining sites to minimize environmental impacts during mining and to
reclaim affected lands and waters after mining.18
 Indian Affairs agencies provide and fund a variety of services to American
Indians and Alaska Natives.19 Historical y, these agencies have taken the lead in
federal dealings with tribes. The Bureau of Indian Education funds an elementary
and secondary school system, institutions of higher education, and other
educational programs.20 The Bureau of Indian Affairs is responsible for programs
that include government operations, courts, law enforcement, fire protection,
social programs, roads, economic development, employment assistance, housing
repair, irrigation, dams, Indian rights protection, implementation of land and
water settlements, and management of trust assets (real estate and natural
resources).21
 Departmental Offices cover diverse offices and programs. In FY2021, they
included the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, Insular Affairs, Office of the
Solicitor, and Office of Inspector General.22
 Department-Wide Programs cover varied programs and entities. In FY2021, they
included DOI Wildland Fire Management, the Central Hazardous Materials
Fund, the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, the Working Capital
Fund, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.23

17 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforceme nt, see CRS In
Focus IF11752, Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2021 , by Laura B. Comay.
18 For additional information on the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, see CRS Report R46266,
The Abandoned Mine Reclam ation Fund: Reauthorization Issues in the 116th Congress, by Lance N. Larson, and CRS
Report R46610, Reclam ation of Coal Mining Operations: Select Issues and Legislation , by Lance N. Larson.
19 T his description reflects appropriations for “Indian Affairs” for FY2021. FY2021 appropriations for Indian Affairs
included funding for two separate bureaus—the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education—and the
Office of the Special T rustee for American Indians.
20 For a discussion of Indian education programs, see CRS Report RL34205, Indian Elementary-Secondary Education:
Program s, Background, and Issues, by Cassandria Dortch; and CRS In Focus IF10554, Postsecondary Education of
Native Am ericans, by Cassandria Dortch.
21 For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, see CRS In Focus IF11602, The Bureau
of Indian Affairs: FY2021 Appropriations, by T ana Fitzpatrick.
22 An overview of the responsibilities of these entities is on the DOI website at https://www.doi.gov/bureaus/offices.
23 Descriptions of these programs are contained on the DOI website as follows. For DOI wildland fire management, see
https://www.doi.gov/wildlandfire. For the Central Hazardous Materials Fund, see https://www.doi.gov/oepc/central-
hazardous-materials-fund-chf. For the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, see Budget Justifications and
Perform ance Inform ation, Fiscal Year 2021, Natural Resource Dam age Assessm ent and Restoration Program at
https://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2021. For the Working Capital Fund, see Budget Justifications and
Perform ance Inform ation, Fiscal Year 2021, Office of the Secretary, Departm ent-Wide Program s, pp. OS-13-OS-14, at
https://www.doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2021. For the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, see
https://www.onrr.gov/. Also, for an overview of FY2021 appropriations for wildland fire management, see CRS In
Focus IF11675, Wildfire Managem ent Funding: FY2021 Appropriations, by Katie Hoover. For an overview of
wildland fire management appropriations in recent years, see CRS Report R46583, Federal Wildfire Managem ent: Ten-
Year Funding Trends and Issues (FY2011 -FY2020), by Katie Hoover.
Congressional Research Service

5

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Title II. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA has no organic statute establishing an overal mission; rather, the agency administers various
environmental statutes that have an express or general objective to protect human health and the
environment. Primary responsibilities include the implementation of federal statutes regulating air
quality, water quality, drinking water safety, pesticides, toxic substances, management and
disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, and cleanup of environmental contamination. EPA awards
grants to assist states and local governments in implementing federal law and complying with
federal requirements to control pollution. The agency also administers programs that provide
financial assistance for public wastewater and drinking water infrastructure projects.24
Title III. Related Agencies
Title III of the Interior bil currently funds 24 agencies, organizations, and other entities, which
are collectively referred to as the “Related Agencies.” Among the Related Agencies funded in the
Interior bil , roughly 95% of the funding is typical y provided to the following:
 The Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture manages 193 mil ion acres
of federal land within the National Forest System—consisting of national forests,
national grasslands, and other areas—in 43 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, and the Virgin Islands. It also provides technical and financial assistance to
states, tribes, and private forest landowners and conducts research on sustaining
forest resources for future generations.25
 The Indian Health Service in the Department of Health and Human Services
provides medical and environmental health services for approximately 2.6
mil ion American Indians and Alaska Natives. Health care is provided through a
system of facilities and programs operated by the agency, tribes and tribal
organizations, and urban Indian organizations. The agency operates 24 hospitals,
50 health centers, 24 health stations, and 11 school health centers. Tribes and
tribal organizations, through Indian Health Service contracts and compacts,
operate another 22 hospitals, 285 health centers, 54 health stations, 127 Alaska
vil age clinics, and 5 school health centers.26
 The Smithsonian Institution is a museum and research complex consisting of 19
museums and gal eries, the National Zoological Park (“National Zoo”), and 9
research facilities throughout the United States and around the world.27

24 For a detailed compendium of environmental laws administered by EPA, see CRS Report RL30798, Environmental
Laws: Sum m aries of Major Statutes Adm inistered by the Environm ental Protection Agency , coordinated by David M.
Bearden. For an overview of FY2021 appropriations for EPA, see CRS In Focus IF11563, U.S. Environm ental
Protection Agency FY2021 Appropriations, by Robert Esworthy and David M. Bearden.
25 For an overview of Forest Service land management, see CRS Report R43872, National Forest System Management:
Overview, Appropriations, and Issues for Congress, by Katie Hoover and Anne A. Riddle. For an overview of FY2021
appropriations for the Forest Service, see CRS In Focus IF11638, Forest Service: FY2021 Appropriations, by Katie
Hoover. For an overview of Forest Service appropriations in recent years, see CRS Report R46557, Forest Service
Appropriations: Ten-Year Data and Trends (FY2011-FY2020), by Katie Hoover.
26 Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS), Justification of Estimates for
Appropriations Com m ittees, FY2021, p. CJ-68, at https://www.ihs.gov/budgetformulation/congressionaljustifications/.
For additional information on the agency, see CRS Report R43330, The Indian Health Service (IHS): An Overview, by
Elayne J. Heisler.
27 T hese statistics are from the Smithsonian Institution’s website at http://www.si.edu/About.
Congressional Research Service

6

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Established by federal legislation in 1846 with the acceptance of a trust donation
by the institution’s namesake benefactor, the Smithsonian is funded by both
federal appropriations and a private trust.28
 The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the
Humanities make up the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities.
The National Endowment for the Arts is a major federal source of support for al
arts disciplines. Since 1965, it has awarded more than 145,000 grants, which
have been distributed to al states. The National Endowment for the Humanities
general y supports grants for humanities education, research, preservation, and
public humanities programs; creation of regional humanities centers; and
development of humanities programs under the jurisdiction of state humanities
councils. Since 1965, it has awarded more than 64,000 grants. It also supports a
Chal enge Grant program to stimulate and match private donations in support of
humanities institutions.
FY2021 Appropriations
Components of President Trump’s Request
For FY2021, President Trump requested $34.07 bil ion for the 36 agencies and entities funded in
FY2021 in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bil .29 This total
included $31.72 bil ion in regular appropriations and $2.35 bil ion for certain wildfire suppression
activities under an adjustment to discretionary spending limits for FY2021. Budget authority
designated for those activities would cause the spending limits to be adjusted, making it
effectively not subject to the limits.30
The total request is broken out unevenly across the three major funding titles in Interior bil s and
among agencies and entities within each title, as is typical y the case. For the 11 major DOI
agencies in Title I of the bil , the request was $12.05 bil ion, or 35.4% of the $34.07 bil ion total
requested. For EPA, funded in Title II of the bil , the request was $6.70 bil ion, or 19.7% of the
total. For the 24 agencies and other entities currently funded in Title III of the bil , the request was
$15.31 bil ion, or 44.9% of the total.
Appropriations for agencies vary widely for reasons relating to the number, breadth, and
complexity of agency responsibilities; alternative sources of funding (e.g., mandatory
appropriations); and Administration and congressional priorities, among other factors. Thus,
although the FY2021 request covered more than 30 agencies, funding for a smal subset of these
agencies accounted for most of the total. For example, the requested appropriations for three
agencies—Forest Service, EPA, and Indian Health Service—were more than half (59.8%) of the
total request. Further, nearly three-quarters (73.6%) of the request was for these three agencies
and two others, National Park Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
For DOI agencies, President Trump’s requests for FY2021 ranged from $116.2 mil ion for the
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement to $2.79 bil ion for the National Park

28 For an overview of the Smithsonian Institution and related issues for Congress, see CRS Report R44370,
Sm ithsonian Institution: Background, Issues for Congress, and Selected Legislation, by R. Eric Petersen.
29 Agency and bill totals in this report generally reflect rescissions.
30 President T rump’s request for a $2.35 billion discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire suppression included $2.04
billion for the Forest Service and $310.0 million for DOI.
Congressional Research Service

7

link to page 12

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Service. The requests for 5 of the 11 agencies exceeded $1 bil ion. Nearly two-fifths (39.0%) of
the $12.05 bil ion requested for DOI agencies was for two agencies: the National Park Service
($2.79 bil ion) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs ($1.91 bil ion).
For Related Agencies in Title III, President Trump’s requested funding levels exhibited more
variation. They ranged from $0 for some agencies to $7.38 bil ion for the Forest Service.31 The
Indian Health Service, with a request of $6.29 bil ion, and the Smithsonian Institution, with a
request of $1.11 bil ion, were the only other agencies in Title III for which the request was more
than $1 bil ion. The next-largest request was $161.6 mil ion for the National Gal ery of Art. By
contrast, 13 Title III entities each had requests of less than $10 mil ion each. Figure 1 identifies
the share of President Trump’s FY2021 request for particular agencies in the Interior bil .
Figure 1. Components of President Trump’s FY2021 Request for
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
(in bil ions of dol ars)

Source: Prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) with data from the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees.
Notes: The “Indian Affairs” request reflected funds for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian
Education, and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration. The FY2021 appropriations la w did not appropriate
funds to the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration but rather to the Office of the Special Trustee for American
Indians. Agencies shown in shades of red are in the Department of the Interior, Title I of the bil . The
Environmental Protection Agency, shown in blue-grey, is in Title II of the bil . Agencies shown in shades of green-
brown are Related Agencies, Title III of the bil . Figures may not add to total shown due to rounding.

31As noted, the Forest Service request included $2.04 billion under a discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire
suppression.
Congressional Research Service

8

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Components of FY2021 Enacted Bill
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, P.L. 116-260, enacted on December 27, 2020,
contained $38.52 bil ion (Division G) for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. This total
included $2.35 bil ion for wildfire suppression under the cap adjustment.32
Of the $38.52 bil ion, the 11 major DOI agencies in Title I received $13.72 bil ion, or 35.6% of
the total. For EPA, funded in Title II of the bil , the FY2021 law contained $9.24 bil ion, or 24.0%
of the total. For the 24 agencies and other entities currently funded in Title III of the bil , the
FY2021 law provided $15.56 bil ion, or 40.4% of the total.
As in President Trump’s request, the FY2021 enacted appropriations for five agencies constituted
nearly three-quarters of the $38.52 bil ion total. The appropriations for EPA, Forest Service,
Indian Health Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs totaled $28.18 bil ion,
or 73.2% of the total.
For DOI agencies, the FY2021 enacted amounts ranged from $125.1 mil ion for the Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement to $3.12 bil ion for the National Park Service. The
FY2021 enacted amounts for 7 of the 11 DOI agencies exceeded $1 bil ion. For Related Agencies
in Title III, the FY2021 enacted amounts ranged from $0 for one agency to $7.42 bil ion for the
Forest Service.33 As under President Trump’s request, three Title III agencies received more than
$1 bil ion; in addition to the Forest Service, these agencies included the Indian Health Service
($6.24 bil ion) and the Smithsonian Institution ($1.03 bil ion). The next-largest amounts in Title
III were $176.4 mil ion for the National Gal ery of Art and $167.5 mil ion for each of the
National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. For each of
11 Title III agencies, the FY2021 law included less than $10 mil ion.
Comparing FY2020 Enacted, FY2021 Requested, and FY2021 Enacted
Appropriations
For FY2020, the total enacted appropriation for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies was
$40.72 bil ion. This total included
 $38.30 bil ion in P.L. 116-94, Division D (composed of $36.05 bil ion in regular
appropriations and a $2.25 bil ion discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire
suppression);34
 $308.0 mil ion in emergency supplemental appropriations in P.L. 116-113, Title
IX, for EPA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for activities related to the
United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement;35
 $64.0 mil ion in emergency supplemental appropriations in P.L. 116-127,
Division A, for the Indian Health Service for coronavirus preparedness and
response;36 and

32 T he $2.35 billion enacted for FY2021 included $2.04 billion for the Forest Service and $310.0 million for DOI.
33 T he Forest Service appropriation included $2.04 billion under a discretionary cap adjustment for wildfire
suppression. T he entity for which the FY2021 enacted law included no funding was the Women’s Suffrage Centennial
Commission.
34 P.L. 116-94 was enacted as the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.
35 P.L. 116-113 was enacted as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act .
36 P.L. 116-127 was enacted as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act .
Congressional Research Service

9

link to page 15 link to page 15 link to page 15 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

 $2.04 bil ion in emergency supplemental appropriations in P.L. 116-136, Division
B, for coronavirus health response and agency operations.37 Although the
coronavirus monies were provided to several agencies, approximately three-
quarters of the funds (76.2%) were appropriated for three Indian-focused
agencies: the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the
Indian Health Service (as shown in Table 1). For al agencies, the funds were
appropriated “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestical y or
international y” and were available until September 30, 2021.38
The FY2020 enacted, FY2021 requested, and FY2021 enacted levels included funding for
wildfire suppression under the discretionary cap adjustment, as follows. The FY2020 enacted
amount was $2.25 bil ion, and the amount requested and appropriated for FY2021 was $2.35
bil ion. These were the maximum amounts available under law for each of these years.39
The FY2021 enacted total of $38.52 bil ion was $2.19 bil ion (5.4%) lower than the FY2020
enacted total of $40.72 bil ion due to the inclusion in the FY2020 total of emergency
supplemental funding for coronavirus and other purposes. However, the FY2021 enacted level
was $0.2 mil ion (0.6%) higher than the FY2020 enacted regular appropriation of $38.30 bil ion.
The FY2021 enacted total of $38.52 bil ion was $4.46 bil ion (13.1%) higher than President
Trump’s FY2021 request of $34.07 bil ion. This was the result of higher FY2021 appropriations
for many agencies in the Interior bil , including the following increases over President Trump’s
request: EPA, $2.53 bil ion; U.S. Geological Survey, $344.3 mil ion; National Park Service,
$330.1 mil ion; Bureau of Indian Education, $292.8 mil ion; and Bureau of Indian Affairs, $251.5
mil ion.
President Trump’s FY2021 request was $6.65 bil ion (16.3%) lower than the FY2020 enacted
total of $40.72 bil ion, including emergency supplemental appropriations. It was $4.24 bil ion
(11.1%) lower than the FY2020 enacted regular appropriation of $38.30 bil ion. This was the
result of lower funding requested by President Trump for many agencies relative to their FY2020
funding levels.
Figure 2 depicts FY2020 enacted appropriations, FY2021 appropriations requested by President
Trump, and FY2021 enacted appropriations. It shows the appropriations contained in each of the
three main appropriations titles of the Interior bil —Title I (DOI), Title II (EPA), and Title III
(Related Agencies). For FY2020 enacted appropriations, it depicts the regular annual
appropriations in P.L. 116-94 and the emergency supplemental appropriations for coronavirus and
other purposes in P.L. 116-113, P.L. 116-127, and P.L. 116-136. For FY2021 enacted
appropriations, it depicts the regular annual appropriations in P.L. 116-260. Table 1, at the end of
this report, lists the appropriations for each agency that were enacted for FY2020, requested by
President Trump for FY2021, and enacted for FY2021.

37 P.L. 116-136 was enacted as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
38 See P.L. 116-136, Division B, T itle VII.
39 2 U.S.C. §901(b)(2)(F).
Congressional Research Service

10

link to page 17

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Figure 2. Appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies,
by Major Title, FY2020-FY2021

Source: Prepared by CRS with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
Notes: The FY2020 regular appropriation in P.L. 116-94 also contained a $1.0 mil ion rescission in Title IV
(General Provisions). The FY2020 enacted total reflects $2.41 bil ion in emergency supplemental appropriations
for several agencies for coronavirus and other purposes. This emergency supplemental money was contained in
three laws: P.L. 116-113 ($308.0 mil ion), P.L. 116-127 ($64.0 mil ion), and P.L. 116-136 ($2.04 bil ion). The
FY2021 request also included $4.0 mil ion in Title IV (General Provisions). The FY2021 regular appropriation was
contained in P.L. 116-260.
Table 1. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:
FY2020-FY2021 Appropriations
(in thousands of dol ars)
FY2020
FY2020
FY2021
FY2021
Regular
Suppl.
FY2020 Total
Admin.
Regular
Bureau or Agency
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Request
Enacted
Title I: Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
$1,369,838
$0
$1,369,838
$1,222,358
$1,309,634
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
$1,643,520
$4,000
$1,647,520
$1,378,631
$1,583,861
National Park Service
$3,377,284
$0
$3,377,284
$2,792,561
$3,122,651
U.S. Geological Survey
$1,270,957
$0
$1,270,957
$971,185
$1,315,527
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
$131,611
$0
$131,611
$125,760
$127,760
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
$133,444
$0
$133,444
$130,339
$125,064
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
$257,481
$0
$257,481
$116,166
$222,599
and Enforcement
Indian Affairsa
$3,331,998
$522,000
$3,853,998
$2,960,824
$3,505,152
Bureau of Indian Affairs
$2,032,124
$453,000
$2,485,124
$1,907,881
$2,159,384
Bureau of Indian Education
$1,191,334
$69,000
$1,260,334
$944,544
$1,237,369
Bureau of Trust Funds Administration
$0
$0
$0
$108,399
$0
Congressional Research Service

11

link to page 17 link to page 17 link to page 17 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

FY2020
FY2020
FY2021
FY2021
Regular
Suppl.
FY2020 Total
Admin.
Regular
Bureau or Agency
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Request
Enacted
Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians
$108,540
$0
$108,540
$0
$108,399
Departmental Officesb
$365,978
$213,400
$579,378
$363,292
$363,731
Office of the Secretary
$131,832
158,400
290,232
$127,938
$103,210
Insular Affairs
$111,344
55,000
166,344
$89,199
$115,156
Office of the Solicitor
$66,816
$0
$66,816
$86,813
$86,813
Office of Inspector General
$55,986
$0
$55,986
$59,342
$58,552
Department-Wide Programs
$1,485,180
$0
$1,485,180
$1,546,660
$1,529,609
Wildland Fire Management
$1,252,338
$0
$1,252,338
$1,313,090
$1,302,623
Central Hazardous Materials Fund
$22,010
$0
$22,010
$1,874
$10,010
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund
$7,767
$0
$0
$4,709
$7,767
Working Capital Fund
$55,735
$0
$0
$78,513
$60,735
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
$147,330
$0
$0
$148,474
$148,474
General Provisions: Payments in Lieu of Taxesc
$500,000
$0
$0
$441,976
$515,000
Subtotal, Title I: Department of the Interior
$13,867,291
$739,400
$14,606,691
$12,050,752d
$13,720,588
Title II: Environmental Protection Agency
Subtotal, Title II: Environmental Protection
$9,057,401
$311,230
$9,368,631
$6,704,071
$9,237,153
Agency
Title III: Related Agencies
Dept. of Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural
$875
$0
$875
$875
$875
Resources & Environment
Forest Service
$7,433,413
$70,800
$7,504,213
$7,378,836
$7,423,834
Indian Health Service
$6,047,094
$1,096,000
$7,143,094
$6,293,568
$6,236,279
National Institute of Environmental Health
$81,000
$0
$81,000
$73,688
$81,500
Sciences
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
$76,691
$12,500
$89,191
$62,000
$78,000
Council on Environmental Quality and Office of
$2,994
$0
$2,994
$3,500
$3,500
Environmental Quality
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
$12,000
$0
$12,000
$10,200
$12,000
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
$7,500
$0
$7,500
$4,000
$4,000
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native
$10,458
$78
$10,536
$10,710
$10,772
Culture and Arts Development
Smithsonian Institution
$1,047,358
$7,500
$1,054,858
$1,110,313
$1,032,732
National Gal ery of Art
$173,225
$0
$173,225
$161,587
$176,445
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
$43,490
$25,000
$68,490
$40,400
$40,400
Woodrow Wilson International Center for
$14,000
$0
$14,000
$8,211
$14,000
Scholars
National Endowment for the Arts
$162,250
$75,000
$237,250
$30,175
$167,500
National Endowment for the Humanities
$162,250
$75,000
$237,250
$33,420
$167,500
Congressional Research Service

12

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

FY2020
FY2020
FY2021
FY2021
Regular
Suppl.
FY2020 Total
Admin.
Regular
Bureau or Agency
Enacted
Enacted
Enacted
Request
Enacted
Commission of Fine Arts
$3,240
$0
$3,240
$3,240
$3,240
National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs
$5,000
$0
$5,000
$0
$5,000
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
$7,378
$0
$7,378
$7,400
$7,400
National Capital Planning Commission
$8,124
$0
$8,124
$8,124
$8,124
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
$60,388
$0
$60,388
$60,388
$61,388
Presidio Trust
$10,000
$0
$10,000
-$1,000
$20,000
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission
$1,800
$0
$1,800
$1,000
$1,000
Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission
$1,000
$0
$1,000
$0
$0
World War I Centennial Commission
$7,000
$0
$7,000
$6,000
$7,000
Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff
$500
$0
$500
$0
$500
Commission on Native Children
Subtotal, Title III: Related Agencies
$15,379,028
$1,361,878
$16,740,906
$15,306,635
$15,562,979
Title IV: General Provisions
Subtotal, Title IV: General Provisions
-$1,000
$0
-$1,000
$4,000
$0
Total Interior, Environment, and Related
$38,302,720
$2,412,508
$40,715,228
$34,065,458
$38,520,720
Agencies
Source: Prepared by CRS with data from the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Agency and bil
totals general y reflect rescissions.
Notes: Regular appropriations for FY2020 were contained in P.L. 116-94, Division D. Three laws contained
supplemental appropriations for FY2020: P.L. 116-113 ($308.0 mil ion); P.L. 116-127 ($64.0 mil ion), and P.L. 116-
136 ($2.04 bil ion). Regular appropriations for FY2021 were contained in P.L. 116-260, Division G.
a. This row shows total funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Office of the
Special Trustee for American Indians, which was funded in FY2020 as part of the Departmental Offices
Account. For FY2021, President Trump sought to move the functions of the Office of the Special Trustee
for American Indians into a (proposed) new Bureau of Trust Funds Administration. The FY2021
appropriations were enacted for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians.
b. For FY2020, appropriations for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indian s were provided as
part of the Departmental Offices account. For FY2021, appropriations were requested for a proposed
Bureau of Trust Funds Administration as part of the Indian Affairs account. For FY2021, appropriations
were enacted for the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians as part of the Ind ian Affairs
account. For comparison purposes, al these appropriations are shown in the Indian Affairs account.
c. The FY2020 enacted and FY2021 enacted appropriations for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program were
included in the General Provisions of Title I. The FY2021 requested appropriations for the program were
included under Department-Wide Programs. For easier comparison, al these appropriations are shown in
this table under General Provisions.
d. This figure includes $1.0 mil ion for a general provision not shown in the column figures above.

Congressional Research Service

13

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Author Information

Carol Hardy Vincent

Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

Key Policy Staff

Area of Expertise
Name
Interior Appropriations, coordinator
Carol Hardy Vincent
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
David M. Bearden
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Tana Fitzpatrick
Bureau of Indian Education
Cassandria Dortch
Bureau of Land Management
Carol Hardy Vincent
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Laura B. Comay
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Laura B. Comay
Environmental Protection Agency
David M. Bearden
Forest Service
Katie Hoover
Indian Health Service
Elayne J. Heisler
Land and Water Conservation Fund
Carol Hardy Vincent
Office of Insular Affairs
R. Sam Garrett
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
Laura B. Comay
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
Lance N. Larson
National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for
Shannon S. Loane
the Humanities
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Superfund
David M. Bearden
authorities)
National Park Service
Laura B. Comay
Payments in Lieu of Taxes
R. Eliot Crafton
Reorganization of DOI
Mark DeSantis; Carol Hardy Vincent
Smithsonian Institution
Shannon S. Loane
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
R. Eliot Crafton
U.S. Geological Survey
Anna E. Normand
Wildland Fire Management
Katie Hoover
Congressional Research Service

14

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2021 Appropriations

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should n ot be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to
copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

Congressional Research Service
R46519 · VERSION 5 · UPDATED
15