Bureau of Land Management: FY2026 Appropriations

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in the Department of the Interior (DOI), manages 244 million acres of federal land, nearly all in the West. Under its multiple-use mission, BLM manages lands for diverse purposes, including livestock grazing, energy development, recreation, and conservation. The agency also administers onshore federal energy and mineral resources generally.

BLM discretionary appropriations typically are provided in Title I of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations acts. For FY2025, the enacted level in P.L. 119-4, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025, was $1,412.0 million. BLM also receives a portion of the discretionary appropriations to DOI for wildland fire management. In addition, BLM receives mandatory (permanent) appropriations under various statutes. The Interior Budget in Brief estimated FY2025 mandatory appropriations at $507.2 million, excluding $95.0 million for BLM deferred maintenance.

FY2026 Discretionary Appropriations Action

For FY2026, BLM is receiving appropriations at FY2025 levels under a continuing resolution (CR)—P.L. 119-137, Division A. The CR is in effect through January 30, 2026, unless other appropriations for BLM are enacted earlier. From October 1, 2025, until November 12, 2025, BLM experienced a lapse in appropriations because no FY2026 appropriations had been enacted. A BLM Contingency Plan (September 2025) addressing operations during a lapse in appropriations stated that many agency activities would cease while setting out exceptions (e.g., emergency response). It also stated that most BLM lands would be publicly accessible but not all services would be available.

For FY2026, President Trump requested $936.1 million for BLM—$475.9 million (34%) less than the FY2025 enacted level of $1,412.0 million. (See Table 1.) Among other changes, the President proposed decreases for BLM's two largest accounts—Management of Lands and Resources (MLR) and Oregon and California Grant Lands (O&C).

On July 24, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 4754 (H.Rept. 119-215), with $1,301.6 million for BLM for FY2026. This would be a decrease of $110.4 million (8%) from the FY2025 level. H.R. 4754 contained decreases for the MLR and O&C accounts, among other changes. Also on July 24, 2025, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 2431 (S.Rept. 119-46), with $1,374.6 million for BLM for FY2026. This would be a decrease of $37.3 million (3%) from the FY2025 level. (See Table 1.) S. 2431 would decrease funding for the MLR account and maintain level funding for the O&C account, among other provisions.

Discretionary Appropriations Accounts

Management of Lands and Resources (MLR). This account, BLM's largest, funds diverse activities and subactivities. For instance, the land resources activity includes subactivities such as rangelands and cultural resources. Table 1 shows amounts for the account's nine main activities (and mining law administration, with offsetting collections). Relative to the FY2025 level of $1,260.5 million, the President sought a $433.1 million decrease for FY2026. Details are not available on how the decrease would be reflected in the accounts' activities.

Relative to FY2025 enacted, the House committee-reported bill would be a $99.9 million decrease for the MLR account. Of the nine main activities (excluding mining law administration), H.R. 4754 would provide decreased funding for five activities, increases for two activities, and level funding for two activities. The Senate committee-reported bill would be a $36.8 million decrease for the MLR account. Of the nine main activities, S. 2431 would provide funding decreases for six activities, funding increases for two activities, and level funding for one activity. Despite its overall lower account total, H.R. 4754 contained higher funding than S. 2431 for some activities.

Oregon and California Grant Lands. This account funds management of more than 2 million acres of forested lands in Western Oregon, primarily for timber production. The FY2025 appropriation was $115.5 million for this account. Relative to the FY2025 level, the President sought a $46.2 million decrease, H.R. 4754 would be a $10.6 million decrease, and S. 2431 would provide level funding.

Range Improvements. The Range Improvements account funds rehabilitation, protection, and improvement of BLM rangelands. By law, 50% of grazing fees collected on BLM lands or $10.0 million—whichever is greater—is credited to a Range Improvements Fund. In recent years, BLM grazing receipts typically were less than $20.0 million annually and BLM received $10.0 million through this account, as in FY2025. For FY2026, H.R. 4754 contained $10.0 million; the President's request and S. 2431 contained $9.4 million.

Service Charges, Deposits, and Forfeitures. This account allows BLM to use monies paid to the agency for activities such as rights-of-way processing and energy and minerals authorizations. The FY2025 estimate was $30.0 million, offset by collections, the same as in the FY2026 House and Senate committee-reported bills. For FY2026, the President estimated $35.0 million, offset by collections.

Miscellaneous Trust Funds. This account appropriates contributions made to BLM (e.g., from individuals, states, and businesses). The FY2025 enacted amount was $26.0 million, the same as contained in H.R. 4754 and S. 2431. The President's request estimated $30.0 million.

Selected Mandatory Appropriations

Deferred Maintenance (DM). BLM estimated its DM at roughly $6.27 billion in FY2024, more than five times the FY2019 estimate ($1.1 billion). The increase is largely due to changes in estimation methods. BLM receives both discretionary and mandatory appropriations for DM. Interior appropriations laws provide discretionary funds, with $20.0 million in FY2025. For FY2026, the President's discretionary request for BLM DM is unclear, due to the lack of an FY2026 budget justification. H.R. 4754 contained $17.5 million and S. 2431 included $8.0 million.

For FY2021-FY2025, a primary source of mandatory funding for DM was the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), established by P.L. 116-152, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Under GAOA, BLM's mandatory appropriation was about $95.0 million annually. The effect of this funding is not clear, because appropriations can take multiple years to spend, BLM's DM estimation methods have changed, and other factors. The President's FY2026 request proposed reauthorizing the LRF (p. DH-12), and the Senate Appropriations Committee supported reauthorization (S.Rept. 119-46, p. 5). The House Committee expressed interest in revising bill and report language, if needed, if the LRF is reauthorized (H.Rept. 119-215, p. 10).

The President's FY2026 budget request proposed to direct $17.3 million of mandatory funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to BLM DM in FY2026. The Senate Appropriations Committee rejected the proposal (S.Rept. 119-46, p. 11). The House Appropriations Committee stated that H.R. 4754 did not reflect an Administration proposal to amend LWCF law to authorize funding for DM (H.Rept. 119-215, p. 9).

Land Acquisition. BLM typically receives appropriations from the LWCF to acquire lands. Under GAOA, LWCF programs receive mandatory appropriations each year. GAOA generally requires the President to submit to Congress detailed account, program, and project allocations as part of the annual budget submission. The President's FY2025 budget set out an allocation of $78.2 million for BLM land acquisitions. Under GAOA, Congress may provide for an alternate allocation; Congress did not do so in P.L. 119-4. For BLM land acquisition in FY2026, the President requested $7.2 million; H.Rept. 119-215 (p. 102) on H.R. 4754 set out an allocation of $69.3 million, and S.Rept. 119-46 (p. 158) on S. 2431 allocated $65.1 million.