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Updated November 29, 2021
Bureau of Land Management: FY2022 Appropriations
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in the
For FY2022, the Biden Administration, House, and SCMD
Department of the Interior (DOI), manages 244 million
supported increases over FY2021 enacted appropriations
acres of federal land, nearly all in the West. Under its
for this account of $271.8 million (23%), $249.9 million
multiple-use mission, BLM manages lands for diverse
(21%), and $192.3 million (16%), respectively. (Program
purposes, including livestock grazing, energy development,
comparisons below do not reflect an FY2021 general
recreation, and conservation. The agency also administers
rescission of $13.0 million for this account, because the
onshore federal energy and mineral resources generally.
allocation among programs is not readily available.)
Because FY2022 appropriations had not been enacted at the
The Biden Administration expressed that FY2022 increases
start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2021, BLM is
were intended to support several goals. These goals
receiving appropriations under a short-term continuing
included enhancing restoration and conservation of BLM
resolution (CR) (P.L. 117-43, Division A). The CR
lands, fostering conservation of 30% of the nation’s lands
generally extends appropriations at the FY2021 levels
and waters by 2030, addressing climate change, improving
through December 3, 2021.
equitable access to the outdoors, and strengthening the
economy, in part by creating jobs (The Interior Budget in
For FY2022, President Biden requested $1,620.5 million
Brief, Fiscal Year 2022, p. BH-7).
for BLM—$310.9 million (24%) more than the FY2021
enacted level of $1,309.6 million (P.L. 116-260, Division
The FY2022 Administration’s request, House-passed bill,
G). On July 6, 2021, the House Appropriations Committee
and SCMD seek to increase funding (by differing amounts
reported H.R. 4372 (H.Rept. 117-83) with $1,594.6 million
in most cases) for most programs including rangelands,
for BLM. On July 29, 2021, the House passed H.R. 4502,
recreation, national conservation lands, and others
an omnibus appropriations measure with the same amount.
addressed below.
This was $284.9 million (22%) over the FY2021 enacted
level. On October 18, 2021, the Senate Appropriations
For wild horse and burro management, the Administration
Committee Chair released a Senate Committee Majority
requested $152.6 million, the House approved $162.1
Draft (SCMD) bill and draft explanatory statement with
million, and the SCMD contained $151.6 million; the
$1,541.0 billion for BLM. This was $231.4 million (18%)
FY2021 enacted level was $115.7 million. The number of
over FY2021. On October 20, 2021, S. 3034 was
wild horses and burros on BLM lands is 86,189, more than
introduced reflecting the SCMD text; no further action has
triple the appropriate management level (AML)—the level
been taken.
that the range can support, as determined by BLM—of
26,785. An additional 56,676 animals are being managed
BLM discretionary appropriations generally are provided in
by BLM off-range. The FY2022 request included increases
Title I of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
for actions to achieve AML, including increased wild horse
appropriations laws. Mandatory (permanent) appropriations
and burro removal from the range, holding in off-range
also are provided to BLM under various statutes within the
facilities, and fertility control.
jurisdiction of authorizing committees. BLM mandatory
appropriations were estimated at $297.0 million for FY2021
For wildlife and aquatic habitat management, the
and $320.8 million for FY2022.
Administration sought $237.0 million, the House approved
$232.7 million, and the SCMD contained $219.8 million;
For FY2022, issues for Congress include determining the
the FY2021 enacted level was $188.5 million. Portions of
amount of funding to provide BLM accounts and activities
the Administration’s requested increase were intended for
and the terms and conditions of such funding, as well as
threatened and endangered species and for enhancing
whether to enact related Biden Administration proposals.
landscape function and connectivity.
Appropriations Accounts
For energy and minerals management, the Administration
Table 1 shows FY2021 enacted amounts and FY2022
requested $248.9 million, the House approved $241.2
amounts requested by the Biden Administration passed by
million, and the SCMD contained $243.5 million; the
the House and included in the SCMD.
FY2021 enacted level was $198.6 million. The FY2022
request proposed increases for activities such as oil and gas
Management of Lands and Resources. The largest
management; remediation of “Alaska legacy wells”; and
account—Management of Lands and Resources—funds
development of renewable energy, including establishment
diverse programs including energy and minerals, wild
of renewable energy coordination offices.
horses and burros, rangelands, wildlife and fisheries,
facility maintenance, law enforcement, and recreation.
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For resource protection and maintenance, the
allocating more than $60 million of mandatory funding to
Administration sought $189.4 million, the House approved
BLM land acquisition. Funding would support eight
$177.8 million, and the SCMD contained $154.5 million;
specified projects and acquisitions that foster access to
the FY2021 enacted level was $133.2 million. The FY2022
BLM lands for hunting, fishing, and other recreation,
request sought increases for resource management
among other purposes. The mandatory appropriation for
planning, assessment, and monitoring and for addressing
FY2021 was $66.1 million. The FY2021 appropriations law
abandoned mine lands sites that pose safety hazards, among
also rescinded $5.4 million in unobligated prior-year
other purposes.
discretionary appropriations.
Not all programs would receive increases under the FY2022
Oregon and California Grant Lands. This account funds
Biden Administration’s request, House-passed bill, and
management of more than 2 million acres of forested lands
SCMD. For instance, funding for deferred maintenance
in Western Oregon, primarily for timber production. For
(DM) of BLM assets would remain relatively flat (at nearly
FY2022, the Biden Administration, House, and SCMD
$35 million). However, under the Great American Outdoors
supported increases for this account, as shown in Table 1.
Act (GAOA; P.L. 116-152), beginning in FY2021, BLM
The FY2022 request included increases to address climate
(and other agencies) receive mandatory appropriations for
change, restore fire-damaged lands, and foster the
DM through the National Parks and Public Land Legacy
Administration’s Civilian Climate Corps initiative.
Restoration Fund. BLM’s mandatory appropriation is about
$95.0 million annually (assuming maximum revenue in the
Range Improvements. The Range Improvements account
fund). For FY2022, the Administration, House, and SCMD
funds rehabilitation, protection, and improvement of BLM
proposed allocations of mandatory funding among BLM
rangelands. The FY2022 requested, House-passed, and
projects. BLM estimated its DM at $4.1 billion in FY2020,
SCMD amount was $10.0 million, the same as the FY2021
nearly four times the FY2019 estimate ($1.1 billion).
enacted total. Under law, 50% of grazing fees collected on
BLM lands or $10.0 million—whichever is greater—are
The Administration’s FY2022 request, House-passed bill,
credited to a Range Improvement Fund. Through the Range
and SCMD contained provisions related to programs in this
Improvements account, BLM typically receives an annual
account. For instance, one provision would prohibit funding
appropriation of $10.0 million for the fund.
for the destruction of healthy wild horses and burros or for
sales of animals that result in processing into commercial
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures. This account
products. Another provision would extend by one year, to
allows BLM to use monies paid to the agency for certain
October 1, 2023, the authority in the Federal Lands
activities, such as processing rights-of-way and energy and
Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA; 16 U.S.C. §§6801
mineral authorizations. Appropriations for the account
et seq.) for BLM (and other agencies) to charge, collect,
typically are offset entirely by collections, as proposed for
and use fees for recreation on agency lands. For FY2022,
FY2022 by the Administration, House, and SCMD. The
BLM estimated $28.0 million in recreation fee collections.
FY2021 appropriation of -$20.0 million reflected a
rescission of unobligated funds from earlier years.
Land Acquisition. BLM typically receives appropriations
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to
Miscellaneous Trust Funds. This account appropriates
acquire lands. Under the GAOA, BLM land acquisition
contributions made to BLM (e.g., from individuals,
(and other LWCF programs) receive mandatory
businesses, and states). The FY2022 requested, House-
appropriations (beginning in FY2021). For FY2022, the
passed, and SCMD level of $26.0 million were equal to the
Administration, House, and SCMD each proposed
FY2021 enacted appropriation.
Table 1. BLM Discretionary Appropriations by Account (dol ars in mil ions)
FY2021
FY2022
FY2022
FY2022
Account
Enacted
Requested
House Passed
SCMD
Management of Lands and Resources
$1,184.3
$1,456.0
$1,434.1
$1,376.6
Land Acquisition
-5.4
0
0
0
Oregon and California Grant Lands
114.8
128.5
124.5
128.5
Range Improvements
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeituresa
-20.0
0
0
0
Miscellaneous Trust Funds
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
Total BLM
$1,309.6
$1,620.5
$1,594.6
$1,541.0
Source: CRS, with information from the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
Notes: SCMD = Senate Committee Majority Draft, released by the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair on October 18, 2021. On
October 20, 2021, S. 3034 was introduced reflecting the SCMD text. No further action has been taken on this bil . Components may not sum
to totals due to rounding. The Interior Budget in Brief for FY2022 shows higher FY2021 enacted and FY2022 requested totals largely due to
differences in rescissions and offsetting col ections.
a. The amounts of $0 for Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures are a result of an appropriation matched by offsetting fees.
Carol Hardy Vincent, Specialist in Natural Resources
Policy
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Bureau of Land Management: FY2022 Appropriations
IF11890
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