Proposed Presidential Budget Has Potential to Affect Public Lands
President Trump released his second proposed budget on February 12, 2018, and among the line items taking a hit is public lands. Funding for the Department of the Interior (“DOI”) is expected to be impacted by 17%. While the DOI will be impacted, the proposed budget does include $18 billion for the anticipated reorganization of the DOI by Secretary Ryan Zinke.
Secretary Zinke wants to divide the DOI’s employees into 13 regions based on rivers and ecosystems. This proposal would relocate many of the top decision-makers out West. Ideally, this would get top officials closer to the natural resources and cultural sites they manage. On its face, this plan seems to be supporting efforts to protect public lands.
Notably, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (“LWCF”) is expected to see a 90% funding reduction, thereby almost eliminating the fund completely. The LWCF program is divided into a State side, which provides grants to local governments for projects such as sports fields, and Federal side, which is used to acquire lands, waters, and interests to achieve the objectives of federal land management agencies.
Another fund that has the potential to be affected is the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (“CESCF”). As it stands, no funds are recommended to be allocated to CESCF. This program promotes voluntary species and habitat conservation projects on non-federal lands.
Although these programs may be reduced, President Trump’s budget boosts funding for border security, veterans, and national defense. Preservation of public lands take a back seat as other items take a financial priority, which could mean an easier path to permitting development projects across the nation.