What Happened?

Wildfire crews and other Interior Department programs are waiting on a spending bill that Congress has not finished yet. Funding for the Interior Department, including wildland fire programs, depends on Congress passing a full-year bill or another stopgap before Dec. 12, or a funding gap may shut down some affected activities. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) looked at the House Appropriations Committee's fiscal 2027 bill for the Department of the Interior (DOI). ​

The House committee's bill, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027, would provide $42.67 billion, keeping overall funding roughly flat with fiscal 2026 and rejecting President Trump's request for an 18% cut.

Why Does it Matter to Me?

The sharpest gap is at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where the President requested a 52% cut from fiscal 2026 levels, while the House bill would cut the agency by 20%.

The Great Salt Lake shows an even wider gap, since the President asked for $1.00 billion for a new watershed recovery program. The committee bill provides $10.0 million for it. The committee directed DOI to report within 180 days on goals, timelines, and funding needs for the lake.

Wildfire funding also differs, with the committee bill providing $6.74 billion for wildland fire programs, which is $170 million less than the administration's proposed $6.91 billion.

Both Sides, Now

The committee said it "accepts the Administration's proposal to unify wildfire fighting activities across the Department of the Interior," but it declined to route Forest Service wildfire money through the new U.S. Wildland Fire Service, saying it looked "forward to considering the proposal in future budget requests."

The Secretary of the Interior created that service on Jan. 12 under Secretarial Order 3448, and the administration wants to combine Interior and Forest Service wildfire programs under it.

What Happens Next?

The bill is still awaiting floor action in the House, after being placed on the calendar in June, and it has not become law. Will Congress reach a deal before the December clock runs out?

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