What Happened?

The administration's fiscal 2027 budget request proposes $0 for several international conservation programs that Congress funded as recently as fiscal 2026, according to a report published Sept. 30 by the Congress' research branch.

The administration's fiscal 2027 budget request proposes setting the Treasury Department's contribution to the Global Environment Facility at $0, down from $150.2 million enacted in each of the four prior fiscal years.

The budget also proposes $0 for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Multinational Species Conservation Fund, the FWS Neotropical Migratory Bird Fund, the U.S. Forest Service International Program, and the Sustainable Landscapes Program.

For several other large programs, including $274.3 million for State Department international biodiversity programs, the budget lists funding as "n/a," meaning no level was specified.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

These programs fund efforts to protect endangered species, combat wildlife trafficking, and preserve forests and habitats worldwide. State Department programs targeting international wildlife poaching and trafficking have already fallen sharply, from $175 million in fiscal 2023 to $89.1 million in fiscal 2026, before this new budget request was submitted.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which previously administered some of these conservation activities, was dismantled and ceased operations in July 2025, with some programs transferred to the State Department. The report does not confirm whether all transferred programs are fully funded or operational under their new home.

Both Sides, Now

The report does not characterize the administration's request as a policy rationale, and for several of the largest line items the fiscal 2027 funding level was neither reported in law nor specified in a budget justification. Supporters of reducing international conservation spending generally argue that taxpayer money should focus on domestic priorities, though no on-record statement to that effect appears in the report.

Congress enacted appropriations for most of these programs as recently as fiscal 2026, and the fiscal 2027 process gives lawmakers a direct decision point to accept, reject, or modify the proposed reductions.

What Happens Next?

The fate of conservation activities transferred from the dismantled USAID to the State Department remains unclear, as the report does not provide a complete fiscal 2027 funding breakdown for all transferred activities. No vote on the fiscal 2027 spending bills is currently scheduled.

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