Federal Lands and Trails Appropriations Update

With the most recent federal government shutdown behind us, federal land managers and partner organizations have been facing the backlog of paperwork and on-the-ground maintenance and operations needs to keep our beloved trails open to the public.

Federal agencies continue to operate under a continuing resolution rather than an approved budget for the current fiscal year which greatly limits their ability to sign grants and agreements, purchase materials, and move critical trail projects forward.

Photo by Sean D. Burke

What can you do?

Congress is in charge of setting the budget for federal agencies. The current senate budget would go a long way toward preserving existing program and maintenance levels.

Contact your congress people.

• Start with a personal statement about your own recreation and/or stewardship activities on public lands and why they're meaningful to you and/or your community.

• Share your support for top line agency funding levels proposed in the Senate bill and trail-specific programs to preserve the places we care about and ensure safe public access to our trails and public lands.

• Want to get more detailed? You can ask for:

  • Continuation of the Legacy Restoration Fund in the Great American Outdoors Act

  • Full funding for USFS Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CMTL), Trails and Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness programs

  • Full funding for BLM National Conservation Lands and National Trails System programs

  • Full funding for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Visitor Services program

  • Full funding for National Park Service Park Service Operations and National Trails System programs

  • Direction that agencies shall maintain staffing levels by hiring, retaining, and rehiring after separations in order to fulfill the mission of keeping public lands accessible to the public.

• Find even more details from our friends at American Hiking Society.