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Updated October 12, 2022
Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in the
Discretionary Appropriations Accounts
Department of the Interior (DOI), manages 244 million
For each BLM discretionary funding account, Table 1
acres of federal land, nearly all in the West. Under its
shows FY2022 enacted amounts and FY2023 amounts
multiple-use mission, BLM manages lands for diverse
requested by the Biden Administration, passed by the
purposes, including livestock grazing, energy development,
House, and included in S. 4686 as introduced.
recreation, and conservation. The agency also administers
onshore federal energy and mineral resources generally.
Management of Lands and Resources (MLR). The
largest account—MLR—funds diverse programs including
Regular FY2023 appropriations were not enacted by the
rangelands, wild horses and burros, wildlife and aquatic
start of the fiscal year (October 1, 2022). BLM is receiving
habitat, recreation, energy and minerals, law enforcement,
funding at FY2022 levels under a continuing resolution, in
facility maintenance, and national conservation lands. This
effect through December 16, 2022 (P.L. 117-180).
account also funds workforce and organizational support,
including financial and information technology
For FY2023, President Biden requested $1,561.4 million
management. For FY2023, the Biden Administration,
for BLM—$150.4 million (11%) more than the FY2022
House, and S. 4686 supported varying increases over
enacted level of $1,410.9 million (in P.L. 117-103, Division
FY2022 for this account, of $139.0 million (11%), $127.2
G). (This total and comparisons in this In Focus do not
million (10%), and $114.1 million (9%) respectively.
include FY2022 emergency supplemental appropriations of
$1.2 million in P.L. 117-43 to address natural disasters.) On
The Biden Administration expressed that increases
July 1, 2022, the House Appropriations Committee reported
proposed for FY2023 were intended to support several
H.R. 8262 (H.Rept. 117-400), with $1,545.9 million for
goals. These goals include fostering conservation of 30% of
BLM for FY2023. On July 20, 2022, the House passed H.R.
the nation’s lands and waters by 2030; addressing climate
8294, an omnibus appropriations measure with the same
change, including through improvements in land health and
amount (in Division E), which would be $135.0 million
resiliency and deployment of clean energy generation and
(10%) over the FY2022 enacted level. On July 28, 2022,
transmission projects; and remediating and reclaiming
the Senate Appropriations Committee Chair released a
abandoned wells and mine sites, to improve human health,
Senate Committee Majority Draft (SCMD) bill and draft
safety, and the environment and to create jobs. (Fiscal Year
explanatory statement with $1,536.4 million for BLM for
2023, The Interior Budget in Brief, p. BLM-1).
FY2023. On the same day, S. 4686 was introduced,
reflecting the SCMD text. (Hereinafter, this In Focus refers
The Administration’s request, House-passed bill, and S.
to S. 4686 as introduced.) This would be $125.5 million
4686 seek to increase funding (by differing amounts in
(9%) over the FY2022 enacted level and $9.5 million
some cases) for most programs, including management of
(<1%) less than the House-passed level.
wild horses and burros, wildlife and aquatic habitat, energy
and minerals, recreation, resource management planning,
BLM discretionary appropriations are provided in Title I of
abandoned mines and hazardous materials, and national
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations
conservation lands. A few areas are highlighted below.
laws. BLM also receives a portion of the appropriations to
DOI for wildland fire management. For further information,
There are 82,384 wild horses and burros on BLM lands,
see CRS In Focus IF12142, Funding for Wildfire
more than triple the appropriate management level—the
Management: FY2023 Appropriations for Forest Service
level that BLM determined the range can support—of
and Department of the Interior. Mandatory (permanent)
26,785. BLM manages an additional 58,517 animals off-
appropriations are provided to BLM under various statutes
range. For wild horse and burro management, the
within the jurisdiction of authorizing committees. DOI
Administration requested $153.1 million, the House
estimated BLM mandatory appropriations at $599.2 million
approved $156.1 million, and S. 4686 contained $156.6
for FY2023. This total does not include $95.0 million for
million. The FY2022 enacted level was $137.1 million.
BLM deferred maintenance (DM, discussed below).
Portions of the increases for FY2023 would be for
administering fertility control, removing animals from the
For FY2023, issues for Congress include determining the
range, and caring for animals in long-term pasture facilities.
amount of funding to provide BLM accounts and activities
and the terms and conditions of such funding, as well as
For wildlife and aquatic habitat management, the
whether to enact related Biden Administration proposals.
Administration and S. 4686 supported $239.1 million, and
the House approved $229.8 million. The FY2022 enacted
amount was $197.7 million. Portions of the increases for
FY2023 would be for addressing climate change, water
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations
quantity and quality, landscape connectivity and function,
rangelands. The FY2023 requested, House-passed, and S.
and adaptive management and for advancing the President’s
4686 amount was $10.0 million, the same as the FY2022
Civilian Climate Corps proposal, among other purposes.
enacted total. Under law, 50% of grazing fees collected on
BLM lands or $10.0 million—whichever is greater—are
For energy and minerals management, the Administration
credited to a Range Improvement Fund. Through the Range
proposed $249.9 million, the House approved $242.2
Improvements account, BLM typically receives an annual
million, and S. 4686 contained $251.8 million. The FY2022
appropriation of $10.0 million for the fund.
enacted level was $216.5 million. Portions of the increases
for FY2023 would be for developing renewable energy and
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures. This account
managing oil and gas. Oil and gas management includes
allows BLM to use monies paid to the agency for certain
remediation of legacy wells in Alaska.
activities, such as processing rights-of-way and energy and
mineral authorizations. Appropriations for the account
Not all MLR programs would receive increases. For
typically are offset entirely by collections, as proposed for
instance, funding for DM of BLM assets would decrease to
FY2023 by the Administration, the House, and S. 4686.
$32.0 million, from the FY2022 enacted level of $35.0
million, under both the Administration’s FY2023 request
Miscellaneous Trust Funds. This account appropriates
and S. 4686, though it would increase to $35.2 million
contributions made to BLM (e.g., from individuals,
under the House-passed bill. However, under the Great
businesses, and states). The FY2023 requested, House-
American Outdoors Act (GAOA; P.L. 116-152), BLM
passed, and S. 4686 level of $26.0 million was equal to the
receives mandatory appropriations for DM. (See below.)
FY2022 enacted appropriation.
The Administration’s FY2023 request, the House-passed
Selected Mandatory Appropriations
bill, and S. 4686 contained provisions related to MLR
Deferred Maintenance. Under the GAOA, BLM receives
programs. For instance, one provision would prohibit
mandatory appropriations for DM through the National
funding for the destruction of healthy wild horses and
Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. BLM’s
burros or for sales of animals that result in processing into
mandatory appropriation is about $95.0 million annually
commercial products. Another provision would extend, to
(assuming maximum revenue to the fund). For FY2023, the
October 1, 2024, the authority in the Federal Lands
Administration, the House, and S. 4686 proposed
Recreation Enhancement Act (16 U.S.C. §§6801 et seq.) for
allocations of mandatory funding among BLM projects. For
BLM (and other agencies) to charge, collect, and use fees
context, BLM estimated its DM at $4.4 billion in FY2021,
for recreation on agency lands. For FY2023, BLM
about four times the FY2019 estimate ($1.1 billion). The
estimated $28.0 million in recreation fee collections. A
increase is largely due to changes in estimation methods.
third provision would allow BLM to collect and retain new
onshore oil and gas inspection fees to cover inspection
Land Acquisition. BLM typically receives appropriations
costs, similar to offshore energy operations.
from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to
acquire lands. Under the GAOA, LWCF programs receive
Oregon and California Grant Lands. This account funds
mandatory appropriations. For FY2023, proposed
management of more than 2 million acres of forested lands
allocations of mandatory funding for BLM land acquisition
in Western Oregon, primarily for timber production. For
were as follows: Administration, $70.9 million; House,
FY2023, the Biden Administration and S. 4686 proposed
$70.2 million; and S. 4686, $63.6 million. The mandatory
$128.7 million and the House approved $125.0 million. The
appropriation for FY2022 was $67.4 million. FY2023
FY2022 appropriation was $117.3 million for this account.
funding would support several specified projects;
acquisitions that foster access to BLM lands for hunting,
Range Improvements. The Range Improvements account
fishing, and other recreation; and other purposes.
funds rehabilitation, protection, and improvement of BLM
Table 1. BLM Discretionary Appropriations by Account (dollars in millions)
FY2023
FY2023
FY2022
FY2023
H.R. 8294
S. 4686
Account
Enacted
Requested
House Passed
Introduced
Management of Lands and Resources
$1,257.6
$1,396.7
$1,384.8
$1,371.7
Oregon and California Grant Lands
117.3
128.7
125.0
128.7
Range Improvements
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures
0
0
0
0
Miscellaneous Trust Funds
26.0
26.0
26.0
26.0
Total BLM
$1,410.9
$1,561.4
$1,545.9
$1,536.4
Source: CRS, with information from the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
Notes: The Interior Budget in Brief for FY2023 shows a higher requested total largely due to differences in rescissions and offsetting collections. For
Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures, the $0 amounts are a result of an appropriation matched by offsetting fees. On July 28, 2022, the Senate
Appropriations Committee chair released the Senate Committee Majority Draft (SCMD). On the same day, S. 4686 was introduced reflecting the
SCMD text. Column figures may not sum to totals shown due to rounding.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Bureau of Land Management: FY2023 Appropriations
IF12187
Carol Hardy Vincent, Specialist in Natural Resources
Policy
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12187 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED