The House of Representatives passed along party lines an appropriations bill for the Department of Interior (DOI) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), decreasing funding levels in fiscal year 2025.
In a 210-205 vote, lawmakers passed House Resolution (H.R) 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2025, which allocates $38.47 billion in discretionary funding. This is $72 million (0.2%) less than the fiscal year 2024 enacted level and $4.4 billion (10%) below the president’s budget request. The bill includes a $1.82 billion (20%) reduction for the EPA.
In addition to limiting spending, the bill includes several provisions to rein in the activities of the Biden administration:
• Prohibit funds for the EPA to impose mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems.
• Prohibit funds for the EPA to implement permitting requirements for livestock emissions under the Clean Air Act.
• Block restrictions on hunting, fishing and recreational shooting on federal lands.
• Block EPA’s regulations on light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
• Improve forest management by addressing the Cottonwood Environmental Law Center v. United States Forest Service decision.
• Prohibit funds to consider the social cost of carbon.
• Clarify pesticide labeling.
• Limit the misuse of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for species such as the sage grouse, gray wolf, lesser prairie chicken and dunes sagebrush lizard.
• Prohibit various U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rulings that use the ESA against land users and energy producers.
• Block the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Conservation and Landscape Health rule to ensure continued access to public lands for grazing, recreation and energy development.
Lawmakers offered nearly 200 amendments to the bill, including those by Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY-At Large) that would prohibit BLM from finalizing, implementing or enforcing its proposed Western Solar Plan. Additionally, Hageman proposed to prohibit BLM’s finalization or implementation of the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan in Wyoming. Rep.
Lauren Boebert (R-CO-03) proposed to prohibit funds from being used to declare a national monument under the Antiquities Act in Montrose County, Mesa County, Montezuma County, San Juan County, or Dolores County in Colorado.
Reactions
Environmental organizations blasted the bill and the amendments, saying it weakened protections for endangered animals and the environment.
“This bill is nothing more than a wishlist of hyperpartisan policy priorities that undermine the work of federal agencies and implement an extreme anti-environment and culture war agenda,” Earthjustice Legislative Director for Lands, Wildlife and Oceans Addie Haughey said in a statement. “It strips critical funding from the agencies tasked with fighting climate change and biodiversity loss, protecting public health, and addressing legacy environmental injustices.”
Robert Dewey, vice president of government relations for Defenders of Wildlife, said the bill is not good for the nation as it will exacerbate the loss of species already on the brink of extinction and harm the ecosystems we all depend on.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council praised the passage of the bill, saying it protects farmers and ranchers from burdensome regulations and recognizes the role of ranchers as stewards of the land.
“Whether you’re a cattle producer on public lands or private lands, overregulation from the federal government is a serious challenge,” said NCBA President Mark Eisele. “The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is extremely pleased with this Interior appropriations package that supports American agriculture, protects farms and ranches from burdensome rules, and protects the rights of public lands ranchers, who represent an important part of the cattle industry and a driving force in rural economies. We appreciate the House passing this critical bill and we urge the Senate to back this legislation and send it to the President’s desk.”
Next steps
The White House indicated in a statement that President Joe Biden would veto the measure. While the administration said it appreciates the bill fully funding firefighters’ pay and Tribal programs, it opposes the cuts to the EPA and environmental progress made.
“The administration strongly opposes the nearly 100 harmful policy provisions in the bill that interfere with DOI’s scientific and evidence-based decision-making,” the statement read. “Among other negative impacts, these provisions would slow the nation’s progress in growing the clean energy economy by restricting or modifying DOI’s energy and mineral development programs and overturn science-based rulemakings that protect public lands and help to prevent numerous species from extinction.”
The Senate has not considered any appropriations bills on the floor but has advanced seven out of committee. Although the Senate returns Aug. 5 for a brief month-long work period, House members left Washington, D.C., for the August recess and plan to return the week of Sept. 9. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
