U.S. federal appropriations update

[Laura Bies]

Each year, the U.S. Congress develops and passes the federal budget through the appropriations process. The current budget expires at the end of September. Congress is currently working to finalize the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations bill by passing 12 appropriations bills, each covering a different sector of the federal government.

Many programs affecting bird research and conservation are funded through the Interior Appropriations Bill. The House Interior appropriations bill passed the full House of Representatives on July 24. That bill would provide $38.5 billion in funding for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and related agencies, which is about $72 million below the current fiscal year. Interior’s funding would see a $42 million decrease under the bill, with cuts to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. USFWS would receive $1.58 billion under the House bill, down $144.4 million from the current fiscal year.

The Senate bill, passed by the Senate late week, would provide $44.6 billion, a nearly $6 billion increase over the House bill. Under that bill, many Interior agencies would see increases; it would provide $1.76 billion for the Fish and Wildlife Service, $3.49 billion for the National Park Service, and $1.47 billion for the Bureau of Land Management.

The House bill, in addition to lower funding levels, contains a number of controversial provisions that may not survive the negotiations that will be required to develop the final bill, which will likely take place after the elections in November.  With the current fiscal year ending on September 30, Congress will likely need to pass a continuing resolution after the August recess, to prevent a government shutdown between then and whenever the budget is finalized.

Learn more about the federal appropriations process from the American Bird Conservancy or the National Science Foundation.

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The Ornithological Council is a consortium of scientific societies of ornithologists; these societies span the Western Hemisphere and the research conducted by their members spans the globe. Their cumulative expertise comprises the knowledge that is fundamental and essential to science-based bird conservation and management.  The Ornithological Council is financially supported by our member societies and the individual ornithologists who value our work. If the OC’s resources are valuable to you, please consider joining one of our member societies or donating directly at Birdnet.org. Thank you for your support!