Congress Passes Rare Bipartisan Funding Deal for Public Lands

Yosemite Valley and Bridalveil Fall at sunset from tunnel view, California.

In a rare show of bipartisan unity, Congress this week passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill—bringing long-awaited funding clarity to the federal agencies that manage America’s public lands.

According to a release from Outdoor Alliance, the bill passed as part of a broader funding package with overwhelming support: 82 Senators and 397 Representatives voted in favor. For land managers and outdoor advocates, the vote signals a reset after more than a year of budget uncertainty.

For much of the past year, federal agencies have been operating under continuing resolutions—short-term funding extensions that kept agencies open but made long-term planning nearly impossible. Without clear budgets, agencies were forced to plan for worst-case scenarios, often delaying projects, cutting back programs and struggling to maintain staffing.

The newly passed appropriations bill replaces that uncertainty with defined funding levels and clearer direction from Congress, allowing agencies to stabilize operations and better support public lands and waters.

Outdoor Alliance praised the bill’s passage, calling it an important step forward for outdoor recreation and conservation.

“Funding for public lands has been in a holding pattern for too long, and we are grateful for the work of elected officials to ensure agencies and their staff can sustainably plan for the year ahead and continue to provide outdoor recreation experiences that Americans expect,” said Louis Geltman, vice president for policy and government relations at Outdoor Alliance, in the organization’s release.

While outdoor advocates continue to push for increased funding across key conservation and recreation programs, Outdoor Alliance described the FY26 bill as a meaningful bipartisan compromise. The organization highlighted several provisions it says are especially important, including full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, rejection of proposed cuts to federal land management agencies, and funding to maintain public lands staffing at prior-year levels.

The bill also avoids adding new policy riders that could have harmed public lands and waters and provides clearer congressional guidance on how funds should be spent—something advocates say has been missing during the extended use of continuing resolutions.

Outdoor Alliance noted that the appropriations process, while often overlooked, plays a major role in protecting public lands and keeping them accessible. Stable funding allows agencies to maintain trails, manage growing visitation and support the outdoor experiences millions of people rely on each year.

Outdoor Alliance represents a coalition of national outdoor organizations, including groups focused on climbing, paddling, biking, skiing and surfing. The organization credits sustained advocacy from the outdoor community for helping keep public lands funding intact during the FY26 negotiations.

For now, the bill marks a rare moment of agreement in Congress—and a win for public lands heading into the next year.

To learn more about Outdoor Alliance, visit https://www.outdooralliance.org/