The White House has released its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget for the Interior department. Predictably, it proposes further shifting the agency’s mission toward “energy dominance” and giving extractive industry free rein over the nation’s public lands. At a time when gas prices are rising, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is intent on picking “winners and losers,” and American consumers are paying the price.
Overall, the proposal aims to cut spending at Interior by more than 12 percent. However, the depth of the cuts to programs and personnel could be significantly larger, given that the overall spending number includes wildfire funding that would be moved over from the U.S. Forest Service (an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture).
The Interior department has lost around 20 percent of its workforce over the last 15 months, largely thanks to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Layoffs, buyouts, and early retirement offers have already caused land management agencies to lose valuable employees with decades of experience. We’ve seen the harm done to America’s parks, forests, and wildlife refuges after a year of deep staffing cuts. This budget proposal calls for cutting thousands more jobs across the Interior department just before summer wildfire season and family vacations get underway.
The budget also aims to hobble the Land and Water Conservation Fund, narrowing the program’s focus to limited purchases like conservation easements, inholdings, and recreational access rather than for acquisitions broadly. Imposing restrictions on how LWCF dollars may be used for acquisitions effectively kneecaps the single best tool for increasing access to and lowering costs of managing public lands.
The objectives in this budget proposal go against the wishes of Western voters across all political affiliations. Taking away Americans’ access to public lands and prioritizing fossil fuels and extractive activities above all else threatens to undermine the systems protecting our land, water, and wildlife.
Last year, Congress largely rejected Secretary Burgum’s proposed Interior budget. We hope members of Congress will once again remember that their constituents won’t stand for these aggressive attacks on science and conservation.
Key impacts by agency
National Park Service
The National Park Service has lost nearly a quarter of its workforce over the past year. According to a new survey from the nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service, National Park Service workers are reporting a near-total lack of trust in their political leadership. This budget proposal threatens to further erode the ability of the park service to provide a safe and fulfilling visitor experience.
The budget requests an 18 percent reduction in full time staff (2,920 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff positions), dropping from an estimated 16,039 FTEs in 2026 to 13,119 FTEs.
Visitor Services is cut by $51.4 million and 457 FTEs.
Facility Operations and Maintenance faces a $366.4 million reduction and the loss of 613 FTEs.
The Resource Stewardship budget faces a cut of $213.3 million, which includes a $143.1 million reduction to Natural Resource Stewardship and a $58.6 million cut to Cultural Resource Stewardship.
Natural Programs are entirely defunded, eliminating $18.5 million that previously supported the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, National Natural Landmarks, and the Federal Lands to Parks program.
Heritage Partnership Programs, which promote the conservation of local natural and cultural resources, are completely defunded, a loss of nearly $31 million.
Everglades Restoration and Research is completely defunded, a loss of its entire $11.6 million budget.
The National Center for Preservation Technology & Training is also entirely defunded, losing its $2.05 million budget.
Nonresidents of the U.S. will be required to pay $250 for an annual pass, and nonresident visitors without an annual pass will be charged a new $100 per-person entry fee at 11 of the most visited national parks.
Bureau of Land Management
After a year of fast-tracking fossil energy projects and making it as simple and cheap as possible for extractive industries to operate on BLM lands, Burgum’s Interior department is continuing to prioritize energy development, shifting the BLM’s focus away from conservation, recreation, and the multiple-use mission of the BLM.
The budget requests a 27 percent decrease in staff (2,148 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff positions), dropping the agency from an estimated 7,984 FTEs in 2026 to 5,836 FTEs in 2027.
This includes a loss of 307 FTEs in Wildlife Habitat Management and Aquatic Resources,142 FTEs in Recreation Management, and 108 FTEs due to the elimination of the Cultural Resources Management program.
Wildlife Habitat Management and Aquatic Resources is cut by $138.9 million, dropping from $198.8 million in 2026 to $59.9 million in 2027.
Cultural Resources Management is entirely defunded and eliminated, dropping from $19.2 million to $0.
National Conservation Lands face a $44.8 million reduction, which includes completely zeroing out the $11.2 million budget for National Scenic and Historic Trails.
Recreation Management funding is cut by $44 million, including completely defunding Wilderness Management to focus on “Administration strategic priorities including energy production and land-use optimization.” Recreation Resources Management is also cut by $25.6 million.
U.S. Geological Survey
The USGS has already faced attacks on science, with the administration cancelling or defunding ecological, climate, and water research. Long-running data collection projects have been interrupted, and research centers have closed. This budget proposal threatens to further reduce America’s scientific capacity, leaving the nation more vulnerable to environmental changes and natural disasters.
USGS is facing a $528 million cut and a 29 percent reduction in staff (reduction of 1,960 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff positions), dropping from an estimated 6,696 FTEs in 2026 to 4,736 FTEs in 2027.
The Ecosystems Mission Area is entirely defunded, resulting in a loss of $294.7 million and 981 FTEs. The USGS will decommission science centers and facilities across the country that were used for this purpose.
The Natural Hazards Mission Area faces a $63.6 million reduction.
Earthquake Hazards is cut by $32.2 million. The Statewide California Earthquake Center, Alaska EarthScope Stations, and Geodetic Network Partners are all defunded.
Coastal/Marine Hazards and Resources is cut by $15.7 million. USGS will reduce its rapid response capacities for coastal disasters from three coastlines (Pacific, Gulf, Atlantic) down to only one coastline.
Volcano and Landslide Hazards face cuts of $8.0 million and $3.1 million, respectively.
The Water Resources Mission Area is reduced by $61.7 million.
The Water Resources Research Act Program is completely eliminated, resulting in a $16 million cut to grants and research previously distributed to academic institutions across the country.
Additional cuts target programs monitoring water availability, use, and quality.
The Core Science Systems Mission Area is cut by $119.4 million. This includes a $39.9 million reduction to the National Geospatial Program and a $25.5 million reduction to the National Land Imaging Program.
The newly restructured Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area receives a $37.8 million increase.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
As the Colorado River Basin faces an existential threat from drought and climate change, the administration proposes eliminating numerous grant programs and conservation initiatives.
Water conservation and drought grant programs are entirely eliminated, including WaterSMART Grants (a $15 million cut), Drought Response and Comprehensive Drought Plans (a $5 million cut), and the Title XVI program (a $12.5 million cut).
Previous congressional additions are zeroed out, including $127.8 million for Water Conservation Projects and $75 million for Rural Water projects.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The USFWS faces a significant workforce reduction and a major structural reorganization that would transfer the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) from NOAA and its responsibility for implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) into the USFWS. Severe cuts to conservation and scientific research programs will further impede the agency’s ability to protect threatened and endangered species and to care for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
USFWS faces a $342.4 million overall reduction in funding, and a seven percent loss in staff (eliminating 484 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff positions), decreasing from an estimated 6,779 FTEs in 2026 to 6,295 FTEs in 2027.
The Science Applications program is completely defunded, resulting in the loss of its entire $30.7 million budget and 40 FTEs.
State and Tribal Wildlife Grants are entirely eliminated, resulting in a $73.8 million cut and the loss of 19 FTEs.
The Multinational Species Conservation Fund is completely defunded, eliminating $21 million.
The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund is completely defunded, a $5 million cut.
The discretionary portion of the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund is eliminated, a $22.2 million cut.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Fund is cut by 80 percent ($39 million cut), dropping from $49 million to $10 million.
The Fish and Aquatic Conservation program faces a $71.1 million reduction and the loss of 49 FTEs.
Wildlife and Habitat Management is cut by $69.1 million and 215 FTEs. This includes reductions to invasive species management, as well as inventory and monitoring programs.
National Wildlife Refuge Maintenance is cut by $30.6 million, reducing funding for annual maintenance, deferred maintenance, and equipment and vehicle management.