Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026

Key Points

• This bill sets the 2026 budget for agencies that manage America's public lands, national parks, and environmental protection. It provides billions of dollars for the National Park Service, the Forest Service, and the Indian Health Service to keep these programs running and maintain federal facilities.
• Native American communities would see significant funding, including over $5 billion for healthcare and $2 billion for education and social programs. The bill also supports local governments through payments that help towns that cannot collect property taxes on federal land within their borders.
• The policy requires the government to hold more frequent auctions for oil and gas drilling on federal lands and in the ocean. It specifically orders at least four lease sales per year in states like Wyoming and New Mexico and two large sales in the Gulf of Mexico to encourage domestic energy production.
• To limit government reach, the bill blocks several environmental rules. This includes stopping new emissions standards for cars and trucks, preventing certain animals from being listed as endangered, and stopping the government from considering the 'social cost of carbon' when making new rules.
• The bill includes several specific social and local rules, such as renaming the Opera House at the Kennedy Center after a former First Lady and preventing the government from banning lead ammunition or fishing tackle on federal lands unless specific wildlife harm is proven.
• Funding is prohibited for certain programs, including diversity and equity training or activities that promote Critical Race Theory. It also protects individuals and organizations from government penalties if they act based on a religious belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman.