Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 35 to 27.
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson (R-ID) said, “As Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, I promised to write a fiscally responsible bill that rightsizes federal agencies, supports the Trump Administration’s policy goals, and reduces regulatory burdens. I am thrilled that this critical legislation does so while continuing to protect public lands and programs vital to states and local communities. This bill once again fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, prioritizes funding for federal wildland firefighter pay, and honors our trust and treaty responsibilities with the Tribes. The advancement of this full-year spending measure is a step in the right direction, and I thank Chairman Cole and my colleagues for their support.”
Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “America’s heritage has always been shaped by the lands and resources entrusted to the nation. The responsibility before us is to manage them wisely and ensure they remain a source of strength and opportunity for generations to come. The FY27 Interior and Environment bill answers that challenge with strong stewardship. It manages our public lands responsibly, unleashes domestic energy and mineral production, and strengthens wildfire response. It reflects our commitment to upholding our sacred trust and treaty oaths to protect Native American communities. And it refocuses agencies on their core missions by reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens and improving accountability. Chairman Simpson ensured that each provision and investment reinforces America’s natural, cultural, and environmental resources. With the bill now reported out of the full committee, his hard work has advanced a commonsense vision for stewardship, opportunity, and long-term prosperity.”
Subcommittee Chairman Simpson’s opening remarks are available here.
Chairman Cole’s opening remarks are available here.
Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $38.9 billion. The bill prioritizes unleashing American energy and rightsizing agency funding levels, including a $1.8 billion reduction (20%) to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The bill fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, estimated at $650 million, and prioritizes funding for Tribes and wildland fire.
Key Takeaways
Bolsters U.S. national security and border protections by:
- Reducing our reliance on foreign countries for critical minerals by promoting access to resources here at home through blocking certain land withdrawals and reinstating mineral leases in the Superior National Forest.
- Promoting domestic mining by ensuring ancillary mining activities can be approved, fixing the Rosemont decision that created additional red tape and regulatory uncertainty for mining operations.
- Prohibiting funds for the National Park Service to provide housing to an illegal alien without lawful status.
- Providing $774.84 million for Tribal Public Safety and Justice programs, which is a 36% increase over the FY26 enacted level, to combat drug trafficking while preventing and solving violent crimes.
- Providing the requested increase of $134 million for National Park Service Park Protection, which includes targeted funding for the U.S. Park Police to boost the force’s capacity in the D.C. area consistent with Executive Order 14252, Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful.
Champions American energy dominance and reduces regulatory burdens by:
- Providing the requested increase for onshore oil and gas development at the Bureau of Land Management.
- Affirming efforts to responsibly develop Alaska’s energy potential, reducing reliance on foreign oil and advancing Executive Order 14153, Unleashing Alaska’s Extraordinary Resource Potential.
- Providing the requested increase for offshore critical mineral leasing to advance Executive Order 14285, Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources.
- Prohibiting the use of the social cost of carbon, which has stymied new development.
- Prohibiting multiple U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rulings used to weaponize the Endangered Species Act against land users and energy producers.
- Addressing the harmful impacts of the Cottonwood decision to improve forest management.
Supports the Trump Administration and mandate of the American people by:
- Unifying firefighting activities across the Department of the Interior, implementing the Administration’s proposal to create the U.S. Wildland Fire Service.
- Supporting the Administration’s request to implement the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024.
- Prohibiting the use of funds to promote or advance critical race theory.
- Prohibiting the use of funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion training or implementation.
- Prohibiting funds for moral conviction discriminatory action.
- Providing no funds for the American Climate Corps, eco-grief training, or environmental justice activities.
Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by:
- Reducing funding for the Environmental Protection Agency by 20%.
- Prohibiting funding for regulating emissions from manure management systems or livestock production.
- Blocking funding for the Presidio Trust.
Protects access to public lands by:
- Blocking restrictions on hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting on federal lands.
- Preventing additional regulations on ammunition, ammunition components, or fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act or any other law.
- Prohibiting restrictions on where standard lead ammunition and fishing tackle can be used on certain federal lands or waters unless conditions are met.
A summary of the bill is available here.
During the markup, Committee Republicans also stood with the America First agenda and rejected Democrat amendments that would have:
- Denied a tribute to 250 years of American greatness.
- Unnecessarily added bureaucracy and reports related to Kennedy Center operations.
- Prevented modernization of White House infrastructure.
- Increased government spending with no offset.
- Advanced progressive Biden-era priorities over clean air and water for all Americans.
- Sought to give preferential treatment to green new deal-esque energy projects.
- Increased our dependence on foreign sources for oil and gas.
- Curtailed American energy dominance, job creation, and permitting certainty.
- Allowed Democrat-led weaponization of the Endangered Species Act to prevent land use.
- Escalated unnecessary regulatory burdens and utility costs for American families and businesses.
Adopted Amendments
- Simpson #1 (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
- Simpson #2 (Republican En Bloc) – Makes technical changes, stops EPA from spending funds on new IRIS assessments, protects certain mining claims from theft, makes distinctions regarding Arctic Grayling, and initiates a report to justify the new wind inspection fees included in the bill so that no offshore energy producer gets a free ride.
- The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.
A table of included Community Project Funding requests is available here.
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