Delta Appreciates LRF Funding in President’s Budget

Funding reauthorization would go toward public lands infrastructure

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA— Delta Waterfowl expressed its support for $1.9 billion for the Legacy Restoration Fund in President Trump’s latest budget proposal. This funding proposal, if acted on by Congress, will extend the spending authorization for public land infrastructure for the USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System, the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

“This is a strong signal by the Trump Administration that a significant investment in our public lands is a priority need in a time when deferred maintenance continues to rise across our public land estate. We’re grateful for the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Burgum to recognize these challenges on public lands and prioritize the Legacy Restoration Fund to help solve them,” said John Devney, Delta’s chief policy officer.

The Legacy Restoration Fund was created in 2020 by the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act. Since then, the Department of Energy has contributed roughly 95% of all LRF funding to the tune of $8.2 billion. This funding has enabled 1,624 maintenance and restoration projects across the Department of the Interior, Forest Service, and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

LRF funding authorization expires this year, requiring a reauthorization by Congress. President Trump’s commitment to the Legacy Restoration Fund is a strong signal to members of Congress to act this year to ensure these investments in our public lands are sustained into the future.

“Delta has long recognized the critical need for significant infrastructure investment in our National Wildlife Refuges to ensure that refuges can continue to provide high quality habitat, access, and opportunity for waterfowl hunters,” Devney added. “It has been a central element of our Restore our Refuges effort, and we look forward to working with both lawmakers and the Administration to realize this high priority funding this year and aid in the health of the refuge system.”

Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group founded in 1911 that uses science-based solutions to produce ducks, conserve prairie wetlands, and secure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.

For more information, contact John Devney at jdevney@deltawaterfowl.org.