Update on FY 2025 Interior-Environment Spending Packages 

July 26, 2024

Congress Advances Competing Proposals to Fund BLM, NPS and EPA for Fiscal Year 2025.

This week, the House of Representatives approved their FY 2025 Interior and Environment appropriations bill by a narrow 210-205 vote. This legislation determines funding for the Department of the Interior, including the NTEU-represented Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service (NPS), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I am pleased that it does include a much-needed permanent pay fix for federal wildland firefighters that NTEU supports. Unfortunately, it also contains drastic funding cuts below FY 2024 enacted levels, including

·       $1.3 billion for BLM, a $208 million cut,

·       $3.1 billion for NPS, a $461 million cut, and

·       $7.4 billion for EPA, a drastic 20 percent cut from FY 2024 funding levels. 

Meanwhile, yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced their version of the FY 2025 Interior and Environment bill. The bipartisan Senate bill funds agencies in accordance with the levels established in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and was approved by the committee in a 28-1 vote. Specifically, the bill would provide:

·       $1.76 billion for BLM,

·       $3.49 billion for NPS, and

·       $9.29 billion in funding for EPA.

Please know that I will continue to keep you informed as these bills move through Congress.