Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2026 Appropriations
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2026 Appropriations
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Contents
Summary
The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill—often called the Interior bill—contains funding for about three dozen agencies and entities. They include most of the Department of the Interior and certain agencies within other departments, such as the Forest Service (Department of Agriculture) and the Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services). The bill also provides funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), arts and cultural agencies, and other entities. Perennial issues for Congress include determining the amount, terms, and conditions of funding for agencies and programs.
From October 1, 2025, until November 12, 2025, agencies covered by the Interior bill experienced a lapse in appropriations because no FY2026 appropriations had been enacted. Agency operations generally were governed by "contingency plans" during that time. Following the enactment of a continuing resolution (CR)—P.L. 119-37, Division A—these agencies received appropriations at FY2025 levels, with certain exceptions specified in the CR. P.L. 119-74, Division C, enacted on January 23, 2026, provided full-year appropriations for the Interior bill agencies for FY2026 in the amount of $42.56 billion. This total included $2.85 billion for certain wildfire suppression activities under an adjustment to the discretionary spending limit for FY2026. This total in P.L. 119-74, Division C also reflected $5.31 billion in advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service for FY2027.
The $42.56 billion was divided unevenly across the three major titles in the FY2026 Interior bill, as is typically the case. DOI agencies in Title I received $14.97 billion. EPA, funded in Title II of the bill, received $8.82 billion. For about two dozen agencies and other entities funded in Title III, the FY2026 appropriations law contained $18.77 billion. Of the total FY2026 appropriation, nearly three-quarters ($31.31 billion) was for five agencies: EPA, Forest Service, Indian Health Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The FY2026 enacted appropriation of $42.56 billion was an $809.0 million (1.9%) decrease from the FY2025 level of $43.37 billion. The FY2026 appropriations provided level funding for some agencies and entities, including the Bureau of Indian Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The law also provided varying increases for some agencies, such as the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (2.1%), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (0.6%), and the Forest Service (0.7%). More agencies and entities in the bill received decreased funding than received level funding or increased funding. Among the agencies that received decreases in funding are the Bureau of Land Management (2.4%), the National Park Service (2.1%), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (14.8%), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (6.1%), the Indian Health Service (1.8%), and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (66.7%). Further, the law eliminated funding for FY2026 for the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation and did not provide FY2026 loan authority for the Presidio Trust.
It can be challenging to make comparisons between FY2025 and FY2026 total appropriations for agencies and accounts that receive funding in the annual Interior bill. This is due to a variety of factors, including advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service, rescissions of prior-year appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and mandatory appropriations provided to agencies under laws within the jurisdiction of authorizing committees. Including some or all of these variables would provide different comparisons between FY2025 and FY2026 appropriations for agencies and accounts that receive funding in the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
Introduction
This report examines FY2026 discretionary appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. Issues for Congress include determining the amount of funding for agencies and programs in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill—often called the Interior bill—and the terms and conditions of such funding.
The report focuses on the regular (annual) appropriations for the Interior bill. It first presents a short overview of FY2026 legislative action and a brief comparison of FY2025 enacted appropriations and FY2026 appropriations requested by President Trump, reported to the House by the House Appropriations Committee in H.R. 4754, reported to the Senate by the Senate Appropriations Committee in S. 2431, and enacted into law in P.L. 119-74, Division C.1 The report then provides an overview of the agencies and other entities funded in the Interior bill. Finally, the report presents a table showing appropriations by agency/entity for FY2025 enacted, FY2026 requested, FY2026 House committee-reported, FY2026 Senate committee-reported, and FY2026 enacted funding. Agency and bill totals in this report generally reflect rescissions. Except where noted, this report does not detail supplemental, advance, and mandatory appropriations.2
Appropriations are complex. Budget justifications for some agencies are extensive (often hundreds of pages long) and contain numerous proposed funding, programmatic, and legislative changes for congressional consideration. Further, appropriations laws provide funds for numerous accounts, activities, and sub-activities. 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 generally detail budgetary reorganizations or legislative changes proposed for FY2026. For information on a particular agency or on individual accounts, programs, or activities administered by a particular agency, see the Congressional Research Service (CRS) products provided in footnotes throughout this report; congressional clients also may contact the key policy staff listed at the end of this report.3 In addition, selected reports related to appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, such as individual agencies (e.g., National Park Service) or crosscutting programs (e.g., Wildland Fire Management), are listed under "Interior & Environment Appropriations" on the "Appropriations" Issue Area page on the CRS website, which is available to congressional staff.4
Overview of FY2026 Action
For FY2026, President Trump requested $26.85 billion for the roughly three dozen agencies and entities funded in the Interior bill. On July 24, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee reported H.R. 4754 (H.Rept. 119-215), with $41.70 billion for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. On the same date, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported S. 2431 (S.Rept. 119-46), with $42.44 billion for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
From October 1, 2025, until November 12, 2025, agencies covered by the Interior bill experienced a lapse in appropriations because no FY2026 appropriations had been enacted. During that time, agency operations generally were governed by "contingency plans."5 On November 12, 2025, the enactment of a continuing resolution (CR)—P.L. 119-37, Division A—provided agencies in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill with appropriations at FY2025 levels, with certain exceptions specified in law.6 The CR was to be in effect through January 30, 2026, unless other appropriations for the Interior bill were enacted earlier.
On January 23, 2026, FY2026 full-year appropriations for Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies were included in P.L. 119-74, Division C. The law contained $42.56 billion for agencies in the Interior bill.7 This total included $2.85 billion for certain wildfire suppression activities under an adjustment to discretionary spending limits, the maximum available for this fiscal year. Under law, an adjustment can be made to discretionary spending limits to accommodate enacted funding for wildfire suppression.8 This total in P.L. 119-74, Division C also reflected $5.31 billion in advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service for FY2027.
Brief Comparison Between FY2025 and FY2026 Appropriations
Different methods of comparison would lead to varying dollar and percentage differences between FY2025 funding levels and FY2026 appropriations enacted in P.L. 119-74, Division C. Among other variables, the comparative approach used in this report for the two fiscal years reflects advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service and rescissions of prior-year appropriations for various purposes. Rescissions are treated as an offset to new appropriations. Including these variables, the FY2026 appropriations requested by the President, contained in H.R. 4754 as reported, contained in S. 2431 as reported, and enacted in P.L. 119-74, Division C, all reflect varying decreases in funding from FY2025 enacted appropriations. Figure 1 and Table 1 detail this comparison.
Relative to the FY2025 enacted total, the FY2026 enacted appropriation was an overall decrease of $809.0 million (1.9%). The FY2026 appropriations provided level funding for some agencies and entities, including the Bureau of Indian Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The law also provided varying increases for some agencies, such as the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (2.1%), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (0.6%), and the Forest Service (0.7%). More agencies and entities in the bill received decreased funding than received level funding or increased funding. Among the agencies that received decreases in funding are the Bureau of Land Management (2.4%), the National Park Service (2.1%), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (14.8%), the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (6.1%), the Indian Health Service (1.8%), and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (66.7%). Further, the law eliminated funding for FY2026 for the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation and did not provide FY2026 loan authority for the Presidio Trust.9
It can be challenging to make comparisons between FY2025 and FY2026 total appropriations for agencies and accounts that receive funding in the annual Interior bill. This is due to a variety of factors, including advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service, rescissions of prior-year appropriations, supplemental appropriations, and mandatory appropriations provided to agencies under laws within the jurisdiction of authorizing committees. Including some or all of these variables would provide different comparisons between FY2025 and FY2026 appropriations for agencies and accounts that receive funding in the annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
Overview of Agencies in the Bill
The annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill includes funding and other provisions for agencies and programs in three federal departments and for numerous related agencies. The Interior bill typically contains three primary appropriations titles and a fourth title with general provisions.10 Title I provides funding for most agencies in DOI,11 many of which manage land and other natural resource or regulatory programs. Title I also typically includes general provisions related to DOI agencies. Title II contains appropriations and administrative provisions for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Title III, Related Agencies, generally funds about two dozen other entities, including the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture; 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, typically contains additional guidance and direction for agencies in the bill. The following sections briefly describe selected major agencies in the Interior bill.
Title I. Department of the Interior12
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 exercise trust responsibilities and other commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and affiliated island communities.13 There are 10 major DOI agencies and 2 other broad accounts funded in the Interior bill that carry out this mission. Hereinafter, these 12 entities are referred to collectively as the DOI agencies. The DOI agencies and their functions funded in the FY2026 Interior appropriations law included the following:
The Bureau of Land Management administers about 244 million 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 administers 713 million acres of federal onshore subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation and supervises the mineral operations on Indian trust lands.14
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers 89 million acres of federal land within the National Wildlife Refuge System and other areas,15 including 77 million 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 other federal, state, international, and tribal partners on fish and wildlife issues.16
The National Park Service administers more than 80 million acres of federal land within the National Park System, including 433 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.17
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).18
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management manages development of the nation's offshore conventional and renewable energy resources in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Gulf of America, and the Alaska region. These resources are located on the U.S. outer continental shelf beyond state waters.19
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement provides regulatory and safety oversight for resource development on the outer continental shelf. Among the bureau's responsibilities are oil and gas permitting, facility inspections, environmental compliance, and oil spill response planning.20
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.21
The Bureau of Indian Affairs provides and funds various services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The agency 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).22
The Bureau of Indian Education funds and provides education to Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. The agency funds an elementary and secondary school system, institutions of higher education, and other educational programs.23
The Bureau of Trust Funds Administration manages DOI's trust beneficiaries' financial assets. The agency provides fiduciary guidance, management, and leadership for Tribal Trust and Individual Indian Money accounts.24
Departmental Offices covers diverse offices and programs. In the FY2026 appropriations law, it covered the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, Insular Affairs, the Office of the Solicitor, and the Office of Inspector General.25
Department-Wide Programs covers varied programs and entities. In the FY2026 appropriations law, it covered DOI Wildland Fire Management,26 the Central Hazardous Materials Fund, the Energy Community Revitalization Program, the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, the Working Capital Fund, and the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.27
Title II. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA administers various environmental statutes that have an express or general objective to protect human health and the environment.28 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.29
Title III. Related Agencies
In FY2026, Title III of the Interior bill funded about two dozen agencies, organizations, and other entities collectively referred to as the related agencies. Among the related agencies funded in the Interior bill, roughly 95% of the funding typically is provided to the following entities:
The Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture manages 193 million 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 U.S. 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.30
The Indian Health Service in the Department of Health and Human Services provides clinical, public health, community, and facilities infrastructure services to approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. Health care is provided through a system of more than 600 hospitals, clinics, and health stations on or near Indian reservations. The agency, tribes and tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations operate these facilities and programs.31
The Smithsonian Institution is a museum, education, and research complex consisting of 21 museums, the National Zoological Park (National Zoo), and 14 education and research centers, some located in other countries. 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.32
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 all arts disciplines. Since 1965, it has provided $5.6 billion (in current dollars) in support of arts and awarded more than 158,000 grants, which have been distributed to all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The National Endowment for the Humanities generally 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. It also supports a Challenge Grant program to stimulate and match private donations in support of humanities institutions. Since 1965, it has awarded over $6.4 billion in funding (in current dollars) for more than 70,000 projects in all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.33
Table 1. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies:
FY2025-FY2026 Appropriations
(in thousands of dollars)
|
Bureau or Agency |
FY2025 Enacted |
FY2026 President Requested |
FY2026 |
FY2026 |
FY2026 Enacted |
|
Bureau of Land Management |
$1,411,983 |
$899,394 |
$1,301,558 |
$1,374,639 |
$1,378,383 |
|
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
$1,677,745 |
$1,139,279 |
$1,569,025 |
$1,659,107 |
$1,650,466 |
|
National Park Service |
$3,337,172 |
$2,116,470 |
$3,124,233 |
$3,270,057 |
$3,267,311 |
|
U.S. Geological Survey |
$1,450,197 |
$891,560 |
$1,368,385 |
$1,485,354 |
$1,420,433 |
|
Bureau of Ocean Energy Managementa |
$156,162 |
$90,234 |
$124,200 |
$142,057 |
$133,128 |
|
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcementa |
$156,429 |
$78,405 |
$132,345 |
$156,429 |
$146,850 |
|
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement |
$278,732 |
$261,732 |
$288,017 |
$274,084 |
$284,550 |
|
Indian Affairs |
$3,941,145 |
$2,789,818 |
$4,553,207 |
$3,942,648 |
$3,956,636 |
|
Bureau of Indian Affairs |
$2,474,794 |
$1,773,703 |
$2,914,247 |
$2,476,297 |
$2,490,285 |
|
Bureau of Indian Education |
$1,366,342 |
$916,106 |
$1,530,883 |
$1,366,342 |
$1,366,342 |
|
Bureau of Trust Funds Administration |
$100,009 |
$100,009 |
$108,077 |
$100,009 |
$100,009 |
|
Departmental Offices |
$435,938 |
$335,722 |
$359,566 |
$413,548 |
$398,223 |
|
Office of the Secretary |
$147,418 |
$124,012 |
$114,012 |
$127,418 |
$131,012 |
|
Insular Affairs |
$123,570 |
$102,998 |
$117,842 |
$121,180 |
$118,030 |
|
Office of the Solicitor |
$97,950 |
$60,212 |
$70,212 |
$97,950 |
$84,181 |
|
Office of Inspector General |
$67,000 |
$48,500 |
$57,500 |
$67,000 |
$65,000 |
|
Department-Wide Programs |
$1,804,994 |
$6,785,741 |
$1,830,792 |
$1,815,994 |
$1,788,027 |
|
Wildland Fire Management |
$1,507,171 |
$6,552,107 |
$1,565,086 |
$1,518,171 |
$1,517,171 |
|
Central Hazardous Materials Fund |
$9,661 |
$6,280 |
$8,200 |
$9,661 |
$9,031 |
|
Energy Community Revitalization Program |
$4,800 |
$0 |
$4,800 |
$4,800 |
$4,700 |
|
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund |
$7,715 |
$4,709 |
$5,485 |
$7,715 |
$6,500 |
|
Working Capital Fund |
$107,710 |
$75,397 |
$88,775 |
$107,710 |
$90,775 |
|
Office of Natural Resources Revenue |
$167,937 |
$147,248 |
$158,446 |
$167,937 |
$159,850 |
|
General Provisions |
$600,000 |
$635,000 |
$549,000 |
$550,000 |
$550,000 |
|
$600,000 |
$635,000 |
$550,000 |
$550,000 |
$550,000 |
|
|
Lease Sales |
$0 |
$0 |
-$1,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Subtotal, Title I: DOI |
$16,023,355 |
$15,200,328 |
$15,083,917 |
$14,974,007 |
|
|
Subtotal, Title II: EPA |
$9,136,671 |
$4,160,720 |
$7,012,792 |
$8,641,650 |
$8,816,888 |
|
Dept. of Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment |
$1,000 |
$750 |
$750 |
$1,000 |
$780 |
|
Forest Service |
$8,551,845 |
$2,311,450 |
$8,535,071 |
$8,645,272 |
$8,614,772 |
|
Indian Health Serviced |
$8,266,149 |
$2,739,008 |
$9,219,034 |
$8,154,790 |
$8,121,474 |
|
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |
$79,714 |
$51,814 |
$51,814 |
$79,714 |
$77,100 |
|
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
$81,619 |
$78,000 |
$78,000 |
$81,619 |
$79,800 |
|
Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Environmental Quality |
$4,629 |
$4,629 |
$4,629 |
$4,629 |
$4,629 |
|
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board |
$14,400 |
$0 |
$8,235 |
$14,400 |
$14,000 |
|
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocatione |
$1,650 |
$0 |
$0 |
$7,000 |
$0 |
|
Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development |
$13,482 |
$0 |
$12,000 |
$13,482 |
$13,482 |
|
Smithsonian Institution |
$1,090,500 |
$959,300 |
$961,250 |
$1,044,521 |
$1,080,500 |
|
National Gallery of Art |
$209,240 |
$186,000 |
$186,000 |
$198,254 |
$204,000 |
|
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts |
$44,926 |
$37,200 |
$37,200 |
$32,340 |
$37,200 |
|
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars |
$15,000 |
$0 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
|
National Endowment for the Arts |
$207,000 |
$29,000 |
$135,000 |
$207,000 |
$207,000 |
|
National Endowment for the Humanities |
$207,000 |
$38,000 |
$135,000 |
$207,000 |
$207,000 |
|
Commission of Fine Arts |
$3,661 |
$3,461 |
$3,461 |
$3,661 |
$3,641 |
|
National Capital Arts and Cultural Affairs |
$5,000 |
$0 |
$4,000 |
$5,000 |
$5,000 |
|
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation |
$8,585 |
$5,151 |
$5,700 |
$8,585 |
$8,285 |
|
National Capital Planning Commission |
$8,750 |
$8,750 |
$8,750 |
$8,750 |
$8,750 |
|
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum |
$65,231 |
$65,231 |
$65,231 |
$66,731 |
$65,231 |
|
Presidio Trust |
$90,000f |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission |
$15,000 |
$150,000 |
$30,000 |
$15,000 |
$15,000 |
|
Subtotal, Title III: Related Agencies |
$18,984,381 |
$6,667,744 |
$19,486,125 |
$18,803,748 |
$18,772,644 |
|
$0 |
$0 |
$1,000 |
-$91,000 |
$0 |
|
|
Total Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies |
$43,372,549 |
$26,851,819 |
$41,700,245 |
$42,438,315 |
$42,563,539 |
Sources: Prepared by CRS with data from several sources. Enacted appropriations for FY2025, FY2026 Administration requested amounts, and FY2026 enacted appropriations were taken from the explanatory statement accompanying P.L. 119-74, Division C, in the Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 172, no. 5, book II (January 8, 2026), pp. H526-H591. House committee-reported appropriations were taken from H.Rept. 119-215 on H.R. 4754, 119th Congress, as reported by the House Appropriations Committee on July 24, 2025. Senate committee-reported appropriations were taken from S.Rept. 119-46 on S. 2431, 119th Congress, as reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 24, 2025.
Notes: DOI = Department of the Interior; EPA = Environmental Protection Agency. In general, amounts reflected in this table represent regular annual appropriations for the pertinent fiscal year (FY2025 or FY2026), rescissions of prior-year appropriations, and certain advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service (in Title III). Amounts generally reflect offsetting collections, and exclude emergency supplemental appropriations; advance and emergency advance appropriations; and mandatory appropriations under authorizing statutes, such as under P.L. 116-152, the Great American Outdoors Act, which provided mandatory appropriations for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and deferred maintenance of federal land management agencies.
a. Amounts shown are net appropriations after offsetting collections, not total budget authority. Relative to other agencies in the Interior bill, BOEM and BSEE receive a relatively large portion of budget authority from offsetting collections. For instance, total budget authority for BOEM in FY2026 was $191.1 million, consisting of a net appropriation of $133.1 million and an estimated $58.0 million in offsetting collections. For BSEE, total budget authority for FY2026 was $211.9 million, consisting of a net appropriation of $146.9 million and an estimated $65.0 million in offsetting collections.
b. The FY2026 request for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program ($635.0 million) was included under Department-Wide Programs. For easier comparison, these appropriations are shown in this table under General Provisions.
c. Amounts for DOI agencies in this column appear to sum to $15,250,497, although the explanatory statement for accompanying P.L. 119-74, Division C, reports $15,251,497, as presented here. This discrepancy may be due to $1.0 million reported for offshore decommissioning work available to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in S.Rept. 119-46 on S. 2431, 119th Congress.
d. Amounts in this row reflect newly appropriated funds for the applicable fiscal year and advance appropriations provided for the subsequent fiscal year. Advance appropriations are as follows: the FY2025 enacted total included $5.23 billion in advance appropriations for FY2026; the FY2026 request did not include advance appropriations for FY2027; the FY2026 House committee-reported total included $6.05 billion in advance appropriations for FY2027; the FY2026 Senate committee-reported total included $5.32 billion in advance appropriations for FY2027; and the FY2026 enacted total included $5.31 billion in advance appropriations for FY2027.
e. For information on the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, and related land disputes, see CRS In Focus IF12953, The Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation, by Mariel J. Murray.
f. This figure reflects funding for the loan authority provided to the Presidio Trust to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to Section 104(d)(3) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-333 P.L. 104-333), codified at 16 U.S.C. §460bb note.
g. The FY2026 Senate committee-reported bill contained $91.0 million in rescissions of unobligated balances for two agencies: $41.0 million for EPA, in the Buildings and Facilities account, and $50.0 million for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in the Capital Repair and Restoration account. The FY2026 House committee-reported bill contained $1.0 million related to Forest Service appraisal values for acquired lands in northern Minnesota.
|
Area of Expertise |
Name |
|
Interior Appropriations, coordinators |
Carol Hardy Vincent Mark K. DeSantis |
|
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry |
Jerry H. Yen |
|
Bureau of Indian Affairs |
Mariel J. Murray |
|
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 |
Angela C. Jones |
|
Forest Service |
Anne A. Riddle |
|
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 the Humanities |
Shannon S. Loane |
|
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Superfund authorities) |
Jerry H. Yen |
|
National Park Service |
Laura B. Comay |
|
Payments in Lieu of Taxes |
Carol Hardy Vincent |
|
Smithsonian Institution |
Shannon S. Loane |
|
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Eric P. Nardi |
|
U.S. Geological Survey |
Anna E. Normand |
|
Wildland Fire Management |
Alicyn R. Gitlin |
Footnotes
| 1. |
The committee report that accompanied H.R. 4754 was U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, report to accompany H.R. 4754, 119th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 119-215, July 24, 2025. The committee report that accompanied S. 2431 was U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026, report to accompany S. 2431, 119th Cong., 1st sess., S.Rept. 119-46, July 24, 2025. FY2026 enacted appropriations were taken from the explanatory statement accompanying, Division C, in the Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 172, no. 5, book II (January 8, 2026), pp. H526-H591. |
| 2. |
For example, this report excludes mandatory appropriations under authorizing statutes, such as under P.L. 116-152, the Great American Outdoors Act, which provided mandatory appropriations for the Land and Water Conservation Fund for FY2025 and FY2026 and deferred maintenance of federal land management agencies and the Bureau of Indian Education for FY2025. |
| 3. |
This report provides in footnotes the most recent CRS products covering appropriations for agencies in the Interior bill. |
| 4. |
The "Interior & Environment Appropriations" subissue page is available to congressional clients on the CRS website at https://www.crs.gov/iap/appropriations (under "All Topics"). |
| 5. |
See, for example, DOI contingency plans for operations in the absence of appropriations at https://www.doi.gov/shutdown. |
| 6. |
The exceptions related to historic preservation, premium pay for wildland fire personnel, funding for wildland fire management by the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Forest Service, funding for personnel and facilities of the Indian Health Service, and administration of clean water grants by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). |
| 7. |
FY2026 enacted appropriations were taken from the explanatory statement accompanying, Division C, in the Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 172, no. 5, book II (January 8, 2026), pp. H526-H591. |
| 8. |
This authority is contained in the Wildfire Suppression Funding and Forest Management Activities Act, Division O of P.L. 115-141, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018. The 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 Limits, 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 Limits, by Megan S. Lynch, especially the "Wildfire Suppression" section. For a discussion of the cap adjustment for wildfire suppression, see CRS In Focus IF13102, Funding for Wildfire Management: FY2025 Appropriations for Forest Service and Department of the Interior, by Anne A. Riddle; and CRS Report R46583, Federal Wildfire Management: Ten-Year Funding Trends and Issues (FY2011-FY2020), by Anne A. Riddle. |
| 9. |
Pursuant to Section 104(d)(3) of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (P.L. 104–333), the Presidio Trust is authorized to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury. Such authority is available only "to the extent authorized in advance in appropriations acts" (see language codified at 16 U.S.C. §460bb note). |
| 10. |
On occasion, the House, Senate, or enacted version of the Interior bill has contained additional titles. For instance, S. 4686, the FY2023 Interior appropriations bill introduced in the Senate, contained a Title V, with emergency appropriations for disaster recovery and emergency response of several agencies. |
| 11. |
The exceptions are the Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project, which receive appropriations through Energy and Water Development appropriations laws. For information on appropriations for these entities, see CRS Report R48599, Energy and Water Development: FY2026 Appropriations, by Mark Holt and Anna E. Normand; and CRS In Focus IF13066, Bureau of Reclamation: FY2026 Budget and Appropriations, by Charles V. Stern. |
| 12. |
For additional background on DOI and its agencies, see CRS Report R45480, U.S. Department of the Interior: An Overview, by Mark K. DeSantis. |
| 13. |
DOI, "About Interior," https://www.doi.gov/about. |
| 14. |
For an overview of FY2026 appropriations for BLM, see CRS In Focus IF13121, Bureau of Land Management: FY2026 Appropriations, by Carol Hardy Vincent. |
| 15. |
This is the acreage over which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has primary jurisdiction in the United States and the territories. The figure excludes acreage in marine national monuments over which the agency also has jurisdiction. |
| 16. |
For an overview of FY2026 appropriations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, see CRS In Focus IF13140, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2026 Appropriations, by Eric P. Nardi. |
| 17. |
For an overview of FY2026 appropriations for the National Park Service, see CRS In Focus IF13116, National Park Service: FY2026 Appropriations, by Laura B. Comay. 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 National Park Service appropriations in recent years, see CRS Report R42757, National Park Service (NPS) Appropriations: Ten-Year Trends, by Laura B. Comay. For an overview of areas linked to the National Park System which NPS manages or assists, see CRS In Focus IF11281, National Park Service Affiliated Areas: An Overview, by Mark K. DeSantis. |
| 18. |
For an overview of FY2026 appropriations for the U.S. Geological Survey, see CRS In Focus IF13025, The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Background and FY2026 Appropriations, by Anna E. Normand. |
| 19. |
For a discussion of state and federal waters, see CRS Report RL33404, Offshore Oil and Gas Development: Legal Framework, by Adam Vann. For an overview of FY2026 appropriations for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, see CRS In Focus IF13149, Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2026, by Laura B. Comay |
| 20. |
For an overview of FY2026 appropriations for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, see CRS In Focus IF13149, Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2026, by Laura B. Comay. |
| 21. |
For additional information on the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, see CRS In Focus IF11352, The Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund: Issues and Legislation in the 117th Congress, by Lance N. Larson; and CRS Report R46610, Reclamation of Coal Mining Operations: Select Issues and Legislation, by Lance N. Larson. |
| 22. |
For an overview of FY2026 appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, see CRS In Focus IF13036, Bureau of Indian Affairs: Background and Annual FY2026 Appropriations, by Mariel J. Murray. For an overview of budget formulation and appropriations for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and related issues and options for Congress, see CRS Report R47723, Bureau of Indian Affairs: Overview of Budget Issues and Options for Congress, by Mariel J. Murray. For FY2026, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Bureau of Trust Funds Administration received appropriations under the heading Indian Affairs. |
| 23. |
For a discussion of Indian education programs, see CRS Report RL34205, Indian Elementary-Secondary Education: Programs, Background, and Issues, by Cassandria Dortch; and CRS In Focus IF10554, Postsecondary Education of Native Americans, by Cassandria Dortch. |
| 24. |
DOI, Budget Justifications and Performance Information, Fiscal Year 2026, Bureau of Trust Funds Administration, p. BTFA-1, https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-07/btfa-2026-greenbook508.pdf. |
| 25. |
An overview of these entities' responsibilities is at DOI, "Bureaus & Offices," at https://www.doi.gov/bureaus. |
| 26. |
For an overview of FY2025 appropriations for DOI wildland fire management (as well as Forest Service wildland fire management), see CRS In Focus IF13102, Funding for Wildfire Management: FY2025 Appropriations for Forest Service and Department of the Interior, by Anne A. Riddle. |
| 27. |
Descriptions of these programs are on the DOI website or in CRS reports 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 Energy Community Revitalization Program and the Working Capital Fund, see DOI, Budget Justifications and Performance Information, Fiscal Year 2026, Office of the Secretary, Departmentwide Programs, https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-11/os-dwp-2026-greenbook508.pdf. For the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Fund, see DOI, Budget Justifications and Performance Information, Fiscal Year 2026, Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-07/nrda-2026-greenbook508.pdf. For the Office of Natural Resources Revenue, see CRS In Focus IF13149, Offshore Energy Agency Appropriations, FY2026, by Laura B. Comay and https://www.onrr.gov/. For FY2026, the President's request also sought funding through the Department-Wide Programs account for the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program, although for FY2026, PILT received funding under a general provision of the appropriations law. For information on this program, see CRS In Focus IF11772, Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): Section 6902 Payments, by Carol Hardy Vincent and Eric P. Nardi; and DOI, Budget Justifications and Performance Information, Fiscal Year 2026, Office of the Secretary, Departmentwide Programs, https://www.doi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2025-11/os-dwp-2026-greenbook508.pdf. |
| 28. |
EPA has no organic statute establishing an overall mission. |
| 29. |
For an overview of FY2026 appropriations requested by the President for EPA, see CRS Report R48575, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2026 President's Budget Request: In Brief, coordinated by Angela C. Jones. For an overview of FY2025 appropriations for EPA, see CRS In Focus IF13060, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2025 Appropriations, by Angela C. Jones; and CRS In Focus IF12950, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Water Infrastructure Programs and FY2025 Appropriations, by Elena H. Humphreys and Jonathan L. Ramseur. |
| 30. |
For an overview of Forest Service land management, see CRS Report R43872, National Forest System Management: Overview and Issues for Congress, by Anne A. Riddle. For an overview of FY2025 appropriations for the Forest Service, see CRS In Focus IF13101, Forest Service: FY2025 Appropriations, by Anne A. Riddle. For an overview of FY2025 appropriations for Forest Service wildland fire management (as well as DOI wildland fire management), see CRS In Focus IF13102, Funding for Wildfire Management: FY2025 Appropriations for Forest Service and Department of the Interior, by Anne A. Riddle. |
| 31. |
Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service, Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees, Fiscal Year 2026, p. CJ-2, https://www.ihs.gov/sites/ofa/themes/responsive2017/display_objects/documents/FY_2026_IHS_Congressional_Justification_Plan.pdf. |
| 32. |
For an overview of issues related to the Smithsonian Institution, especially issues related to the siting, costs, and other topics related to the establishment of new museums, see CRS Report R44370, Smithsonian Institution Museums: Selected Issues for Congress, by R. Eric Petersen. For an overview of proposals in the 119th Congress, see CRS In Focus IF12987, Smithsonian Institution: Selected Legislation, 119th Congress, by R. Eric Petersen. |
| 33. |
The NEA statistics presented here (among other statistics) are on the agency's website at https://www.arts.gov/about/what-is-the-nea and also at https://www.arts.gov/sites/default/files/Funding-the-Arts-7.18.22.pdf. The NEH statistics presented here (among other statistics) are on the agency's website at https://www.neh.gov/ and https://www.neh.gov/news/neh-announces-reorganization-its-grantmaking-offices-programs-and-personnel. |