Press Release: House Committee on Appropriations releases Interior funding bill

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Subcommittee Markup of FY27 Interior and Environment and THUD Bills

House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related…

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House Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee Markup of FY27 Interior and Environment and THUD Bills – May 20, 2026

Committee Releases FY27 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Indianz.Com

The following is the text of a May 20, 2026, press release from the House Committee on Appropriations.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2027 bill for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The bill will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow, May 21, at 8:00 a.m. The markup will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.

Interior and Environment Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson said, “One of my top priorities as Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee is to protect the American way of life. I’m pleased the Fiscal Year 2027 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill does just that by championing policies that bolster domestic energy, promote critical mineral production, and ensure access to public lands. This bill once again prioritizes funding for Indian Country, Wildland Fire Management, and fully funds the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, all critical needs throughout the West. I’m grateful to Chairman Cole for his leadership throughout this year’s appropriations process as our Committee works to pass all twelve spending bills.”

Chairman Tom Cole said, “America’s public lands and natural resources are not just part of our heritage – they are strategic assets that support recreation, connect our communities, grow opportunity, and reinforce our way of life. The FY27 Interior and Environment bill carries forward a return to practical stewardship: managing our lands responsibly, unleashing domestic energy, strengthening wildfire response, and ensuring agencies are focused on results instead of red tape. The legislation cuts wasteful spending, restores accountability, and protects access to the lands and resources Americans depend on every day. Importantly, it also upholds our sacred trust and treaty oaths to protect Native American communities. Chairman Simpson’s bill reflects a commonsense vision for the future – one that advances America’s natural legacy while promoting growth, security, and responsible governance.”

Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill 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.

Bill text is available here.