Forest Service: FY2019 Appropriations and FY2020 Request
link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 link to page 1 
April 4, 2019
Forest Service: FY2019 Appropriations and FY2020 Request
The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for managing 193
million of emergency supplemental appropriations. Within
million acres of land in the National Forest System (NFS);
WFM, the FY2019 appropriations included funding for
conducting forestry research; and providing assistance to
Suppression Operations at the 10-year suppression
state, local, private, and international forest owners. FS is
obligation average of $1.165 billion plus an additional
an agency within the Department of Agriculture, yet it
$500.0 million. In FY2018, FS transferred $720.3 million
receives discretionary appropriations through the Interior,
from other accounts for suppression purposes. The FY2019
Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
appropriations may be used to repay those funds but did not
For FY2019, total FS discretionary appropriations were
provide additional funding.
$6.087 billion (P.L. 116-6). This FY2019 discretionary
The FY2019 appropriations continued a budgetary
appropriation was 3% ($152.5 million) above the FY2018
restructuring from FY2018 that moved some programs
regular appropriation of $5.935 billion (P.L. 115-141).
previously funded through WFM to other accounts. For
Congress provided an additional $646.3 million to FS in
example, Hazardous Fuels was funded in the National
FY2018 in emergency supplemental appropriations (P.L.
Forest System (NFS) account, and State Fire Assistance and
115-72, and P.L. 115-123), bringing the total to $6.581
Volunteer Fire Assistance were funded in the State and
billion. Using that figure, the FY2019 appropriations were
Private Forestry (SPF) account. In addition, the FY2019
8% ($493.8 million) below the total enacted FY2018 level.
appropriations law did not provide any funding for the FS’s
For FY2020, the Administration requested $5.140 billion,
FLAME wildfire suppression reserve account.
16% less than the FY2019-enacted level.
Figure 1. Share of Total FS FY2019 Appropriations
FY2019 Discretionary Appropriations
FS discretionary appropriations for FY2019 were mostly in
six accounts (see Table 1 and Figure 1). The largest
share—49% ($3.005 billion)—went to the Wildland Fire
Management (WFM) account. WFM funds activities related
to the preparation for and suppression of wildfires. The
FY2019 WFM appropriations were $124.6 million (4%)
above the regular-enacted FY2018 level ($2.880 billion),
Source: CRS. Data from P.L. 116-6 Division E.
but $59.9 million (2%) below the total FY2018 enacted
figure of $3.065 billion, which reflects an additional $184.5
Notes: See Table 1 for account abbreviations.
Table 1. Forest Service (FS) Discretionary Appropriations, by Account ($ in millions)
FY2018
FY2019
% Change
FY2020
% Change
Account
Enacted
Enacted
from FY2018
Requested
from FY2019
Forest and Rangeland Research (FRR)
$297.0
$300.0
1%
$254.5
-15%
State and Private Forestry (SPF)
329.6 [337.1]
335.5
2%
182.3
-46%
National Forest System (NFS)
1,923.8 [1,944.4]
1,938.0
1%
1,912.8
-1%
Capital Improvement & Maintenance (CIM)
434.0 [525.6]
431.0
-1%
434.0
1%
Land Acquisition (LA)
64.3
72.6
13%
0
-100%
Wildland Fire Management (WFM)
2,880.3 [3,064.8]
3,005.0
4%
2,350.6
-22%
FLAME
0 [342.0]
0
—
0
—
Othera
5.7
5.1
-10%
6.3
24%
Total
5,934.7 [6,580.9]
6,087.1
3%
5,140.5
-16%
Source: P.L. 115-141 Division G; P.L. 115-72; P.L. 115-123; P.L. 116-6 Division E; FS FY2020 budget justification.
Notes: Figures reflect rescissions from the SPF account and deferrals from the Roads and Trails Fund in CIM. For FY2018, figures in brackets
reflect total appropriations including $646.3 mil ion in supplemental emergency-designated appropriations provided outside of discretionary
spending limits ($7.5 mil ion for SPF, $20.7 mil ion for NFS, $91.6 mil ion for CIM, $184.5 mil ion for WFM, and $342.0 mil ion for FLAME). The
percent change from FY2018 column reflects change from the regular FY2018 appropriations. Column totals may not add due to rounding.
a. This row reflects total FS appropriations to other relatively smal accounts, including for specified land acquisition activities; the Range
Betterment Fund; gifts, donations, and bequests for research; and management of national forest lands for subsistence uses.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 1 Forest Service: FY2019 Appropriations and FY2020 Request
The next-largest amount of FY2019 appropriations—32%
FY2020 Budget Request
of the total ($1.938 billion)—went to the NFS account. The
The Trump Administration requested $5.140 billion in
NFS account funds activities related to the management of
discretionary appropriations for FS in FY2020. This request
the national forests and grasslands, including planning,
is $481.7 million (10%) above the FY2019 request ($4.658
recreation, grazing, timber production, watershed, wildlife,
billion) and $946.6 million (16%) below FY2019 enacted
and law enforcement, among other activities. The FY2019
discretionary appropriations ($6.087 billion). The FY2020
funding was $14.3 million (1%) above the regular-enacted
request proposed cuts to most FS accounts compared to
FY2018 level, but $6.4 million (0.3%) below the total
FY2019 enacted levels (see Table 1) and did not include
FY2018 appropriations of $1.944 billion, which reflects an
funding for the FLAME reserve account.
additional $20.7 million in emergency-designated
supplemental funding. The Hazardous Fuels program
Wildland Fire Management
received $435.0 million and was the largest program within
The FY2020 request includes $2,350.6 million for WFM, a
the NFS account. Funding for most of the other NFS
decrease of $654.4 million (22%) from FY2019 enacted
programs increased slightly relative to the regular FY2018
levels for WFM. The budget would fund suppression
appropriations.
operations at 100% of the rolling 10-year suppression-
obligation average as calculated in FY2015 ($1.011
The remaining accounts each received 7% or less of the
billion). Congress could appropriate an additional $1.950
total appropriations for FY2019:
billion for suppression purposes outside of the discretionary
spending limits pursuant to the wildfire funding fix enacted
The Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CIM)
as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L.
account funds FS efforts to provide and maintain
115-141, Division O). This would bring the total
facilities, roads, trails, and other infrastructure needs
suppression funding to $2.961 billion.
across the national forest system. CIM received $431.0
million in FY2019. This amount was $3.0 million (1%)
National Forest System
below the FY2018 regular-enacted total of $434.0
The request proposes $1,912.8 million for the NFS account,
million, and $94.6 million (18%) below the total
a $25.3 million (1%) decrease from FY2019 enacted levels.
FY2018 funding level, which reflects an additional
The request includes funding similar to the FY2019 enacted
$91.6 million in emergency-designated supplemental
levels for some programs. Exceptions include increased
funding. Funding for most programs remained constant
funding for the Hazardous Fuels program ($450.0 million)
relative to FY2018 regular appropriations, although
and Forest Products program ($375.0 million), and
funding for the Facilities program decreased slightly.
elimination of the Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration Program.
The State and Private Forestry (SPF) account funds
programs to provide assistance to nonfederal forest
Capital Improvement and Maintenance
owners to protect forests from wildfires, insects,
The request includes $434.0 million for CIM, an increase of
diseases, and invasive plants. SPF received $335.5
$3.0 million (1%) from FY2019 enacted levels.
million in FY2019. This amount was $5.9 million (2%)
above the regular-enacted FY2018 levels, but $1.6
State and Private Forestry
million (0.5%) below the total FY2018 level, which
The request includes $182.3 million for SPF, a decrease of
included $7.5 million in emergency-designated
$153.2 million (46%) from FY2019 enacted levels. The
supplemental funding. SPF also includes the Forest
request would fund, at reduced levels, the Forest
Legacy Program ($62.5 million), a cost-share grant
Stewardship Program, the Forest Health Management
program that has received appropriations from the Land
Programs for both federal and cooperative lands, and the
and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF; 54 U.S.C.
State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance
§§200301 et seq.) Funding for most SPF programs
programs (and included proposals to rename several of
increased modestly relative to FY2018 regular
those programs). The proposal would eliminate funding for
appropriations.
Landscape Scale Restoration, Forest Legacy, Community
Forest and Open Space Conservation, International
The Forest and Rangeland Research (FRR) account
Forestry, and Urban and Community Forestry programs.
funds research and development efforts to provide
scientific information and new technologies to support
Forest and Rangeland Research
sustainable forest and rangeland management. FRR
The request included $254.5 million for FRR, a decrease of
received $300.0 million in FY2019, $3.0 million (1%)
$45.5 million (15%) from FY2019 enacted levels.
more than it received in FY2018.
Land Acquisition
The Land Acquisition (LA) account includes funds
The request would eliminate funding for most land
derived from the LWCF for FS to acquire lands for
acquisition programs.
conservation or ownership consolidation, among other
purposes. LA received $72.6 million in FY2019, $8.2
Katie Hoover, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
million (13%) above FY2018 levels.
IF11169
P.L. 116-6 specified that appropriations to most FS
accounts are to remain available through FY2022.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Forest Service: FY2019 Appropriations and FY2020 Request
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 not 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.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11169 · VERSION 1 · NEW
April 4, 2019
Forest Service: FY2019 Appropriations and FY2020 Request
The Forest Service (FS) is responsible for managing 193
million of emergency supplemental appropriations. Within
million acres of land in the National Forest System (NFS);
WFM, the FY2019 appropriations included funding for
conducting forestry research; and providing assistance to
Suppression Operations at the 10-year suppression
state, local, private, and international forest owners. FS is
obligation average of $1.165 billion plus an additional
an agency within the Department of Agriculture, yet it
$500.0 million. In FY2018, FS transferred $720.3 million
receives discretionary appropriations through the Interior,
from other accounts for suppression purposes. The FY2019
Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
appropriations may be used to repay those funds but did not
For FY2019, total FS discretionary appropriations were
provide additional funding.
$6.087 billion (P.L. 116-6). This FY2019 discretionary
The FY2019 appropriations continued a budgetary
appropriation was 3% ($152.5 million) above the FY2018
restructuring from FY2018 that moved some programs
regular appropriation of $5.935 billion (P.L. 115-141).
previously funded through WFM to other accounts. For
Congress provided an additional $646.3 million to FS in
example, Hazardous Fuels was funded in the National
FY2018 in emergency supplemental appropriations (P.L.
Forest System (NFS) account, and State Fire Assistance and
115-72, and P.L. 115-123), bringing the total to $6.581
Volunteer Fire Assistance were funded in the State and
billion. Using that figure, the FY2019 appropriations were
Private Forestry (SPF) account. In addition, the FY2019
8% ($493.8 million) below the total enacted FY2018 level.
appropriations law did not provide any funding for the FS’s
For FY2020, the Administration requested $5.140 billion,
FLAME wildfire suppression reserve account.
16% less than the FY2019-enacted level.
Figure 1. Share of Total FS FY2019 Appropriations
FY2019 Discretionary Appropriations
FS discretionary appropriations for FY2019 were mostly in
six accounts (see Table 1 and Figure 1). The largest
share—49% ($3.005 billion)—went to the Wildland Fire
Management (WFM) account. WFM funds activities related
to the preparation for and suppression of wildfires. The
FY2019 WFM appropriations were $124.6 million (4%)
above the regular-enacted FY2018 level ($2.880 billion),
Source: CRS. Data from P.L. 116-6 Division E.
but $59.9 million (2%) below the total FY2018 enacted
figure of $3.065 billion, which reflects an additional $184.5
Notes: See Table 1 for account abbreviations.
Table 1. Forest Service (FS) Discretionary Appropriations, by Account ($ in millions)
FY2018
FY2019
% Change
FY2020
% Change
Account
Enacted
Enacted
from FY2018
Requested
from FY2019
Forest and Rangeland Research (FRR)
$297.0
$300.0
1%
$254.5
-15%
State and Private Forestry (SPF)
329.6 [337.1]
335.5
2%
182.3
-46%
National Forest System (NFS)
1,923.8 [1,944.4]
1,938.0
1%
1,912.8
-1%
Capital Improvement & Maintenance (CIM)
434.0 [525.6]
431.0
-1%
434.0
1%
Land Acquisition (LA)
64.3
72.6
13%
0
-100%
Wildland Fire Management (WFM)
2,880.3 [3,064.8]
3,005.0
4%
2,350.6
-22%
FLAME
0 [342.0]
0
—
0
—
Othera
5.7
5.1
-10%
6.3
24%
Total
5,934.7 [6,580.9]
6,087.1
3%
5,140.5
-16%
Source: P.L. 115-141 Division G; P.L. 115-72; P.L. 115-123; P.L. 116-6 Division E; FS FY2020 budget justification.
Notes: Figures reflect rescissions from the SPF account and deferrals from the Roads and Trails Fund in CIM. For FY2018, figures in brackets
reflect total appropriations including $646.3 mil ion in supplemental emergency-designated appropriations provided outside of discretionary
spending limits ($7.5 mil ion for SPF, $20.7 mil ion for NFS, $91.6 mil ion for CIM, $184.5 mil ion for WFM, and $342.0 mil ion for FLAME). The
percent change from FY2018 column reflects change from the regular FY2018 appropriations. Column totals may not add due to rounding.
a. This row reflects total FS appropriations to other relatively smal accounts, including for specified land acquisition activities; the Range
Betterment Fund; gifts, donations, and bequests for research; and management of national forest lands for subsistence uses.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 1 Forest Service: FY2019 Appropriations and FY2020 Request
The next-largest amount of FY2019 appropriations—32%
FY2020 Budget Request
of the total ($1.938 billion)—went to the NFS account. The
The Trump Administration requested $5.140 billion in
NFS account funds activities related to the management of
discretionary appropriations for FS in FY2020. This request
the national forests and grasslands, including planning,
is $481.7 million (10%) above the FY2019 request ($4.658
recreation, grazing, timber production, watershed, wildlife,
billion) and $946.6 million (16%) below FY2019 enacted
and law enforcement, among other activities. The FY2019
discretionary appropriations ($6.087 billion). The FY2020
funding was $14.3 million (1%) above the regular-enacted
request proposed cuts to most FS accounts compared to
FY2018 level, but $6.4 million (0.3%) below the total
FY2019 enacted levels (see Table 1) and did not include
FY2018 appropriations of $1.944 billion, which reflects an
funding for the FLAME reserve account.
additional $20.7 million in emergency-designated
supplemental funding. The Hazardous Fuels program
Wildland Fire Management
received $435.0 million and was the largest program within
The FY2020 request includes $2,350.6 million for WFM, a
the NFS account. Funding for most of the other NFS
decrease of $654.4 million (22%) from FY2019 enacted
programs increased slightly relative to the regular FY2018
levels for WFM. The budget would fund suppression
appropriations.
operations at 100% of the rolling 10-year suppression-
obligation average as calculated in FY2015 ($1.011
The remaining accounts each received 7% or less of the
billion). Congress could appropriate an additional $1.950
total appropriations for FY2019:
billion for suppression purposes outside of the discretionary
spending limits pursuant to the wildfire funding fix enacted
The Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CIM)
as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L.
account funds FS efforts to provide and maintain
115-141, Division O). This would bring the total
facilities, roads, trails, and other infrastructure needs
suppression funding to $2.961 billion.
across the national forest system. CIM received $431.0
million in FY2019. This amount was $3.0 million (1%)
National Forest System
below the FY2018 regular-enacted total of $434.0
The request proposes $1,912.8 million for the NFS account,
million, and $94.6 million (18%) below the total
a $25.3 million (1%) decrease from FY2019 enacted levels.
FY2018 funding level, which reflects an additional
The request includes funding similar to the FY2019 enacted
$91.6 million in emergency-designated supplemental
levels for some programs. Exceptions include increased
funding. Funding for most programs remained constant
funding for the Hazardous Fuels program ($450.0 million)
relative to FY2018 regular appropriations, although
and Forest Products program ($375.0 million), and
funding for the Facilities program decreased slightly.
elimination of the Collaborative Forest Landscape
Restoration Program.
The State and Private Forestry (SPF) account funds
programs to provide assistance to nonfederal forest
Capital Improvement and Maintenance
owners to protect forests from wildfires, insects,
The request includes $434.0 million for CIM, an increase of
diseases, and invasive plants. SPF received $335.5
$3.0 million (1%) from FY2019 enacted levels.
million in FY2019. This amount was $5.9 million (2%)
above the regular-enacted FY2018 levels, but $1.6
State and Private Forestry
million (0.5%) below the total FY2018 level, which
The request includes $182.3 million for SPF, a decrease of
included $7.5 million in emergency-designated
$153.2 million (46%) from FY2019 enacted levels. The
supplemental funding. SPF also includes the Forest
request would fund, at reduced levels, the Forest
Legacy Program ($62.5 million), a cost-share grant
Stewardship Program, the Forest Health Management
program that has received appropriations from the Land
Programs for both federal and cooperative lands, and the
and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF; 54 U.S.C.
State Fire Assistance and Volunteer Fire Assistance
§§200301 et seq.) Funding for most SPF programs
programs (and included proposals to rename several of
increased modestly relative to FY2018 regular
those programs). The proposal would eliminate funding for
appropriations.
Landscape Scale Restoration, Forest Legacy, Community
Forest and Open Space Conservation, International
The Forest and Rangeland Research (FRR) account
Forestry, and Urban and Community Forestry programs.
funds research and development efforts to provide
scientific information and new technologies to support
Forest and Rangeland Research
sustainable forest and rangeland management. FRR
The request included $254.5 million for FRR, a decrease of
received $300.0 million in FY2019, $3.0 million (1%)
$45.5 million (15%) from FY2019 enacted levels.
more than it received in FY2018.
Land Acquisition
The Land Acquisition (LA) account includes funds
The request would eliminate funding for most land
derived from the LWCF for FS to acquire lands for
acquisition programs.
conservation or ownership consolidation, among other
purposes. LA received $72.6 million in FY2019, $8.2
Katie Hoover, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
million (13%) above FY2018 levels.
IF11169
P.L. 116-6 specified that appropriations to most FS
accounts are to remain available through FY2022.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Forest Service: FY2019 Appropriations and FY2020 Request
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 not 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.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11169 · VERSION 1 · NEW