Undermining the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Purpose of the LWCF: The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LCWF) is dedicated to expanding and enhancing our local parks and federal public lands. The LWCF is funded by oil and gas revenue  — not taxpayer funds. At the federal level, it pays for strategic land purchases from willing sellers to expand our national parks and wildlife refuges. For example, it could open up public access to a previously inaccessible area or protect habitat for an endangered species. 

Origin & Funding History:  The LWCF was created by Congress in 1964. But every year, Congress had to reauthorize funding for the LWCF. Then in 2020, Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act which permanently funded the LWCF at $900 million per year. President Trump, himself, signed this bill into law and considered it a landmark achievement. 

Trump Asks Congress to Divert LWCF Money:  In Trump's 2nd term, he changed his tune on the LWCF. In April 2025, he submitted a request to Congress to divert $387 million from the fund to pay for repairs on public lands.

From Diversion to Subversion:   In September 2025, the Department of Interior issued an order on the implementation of the LWCF. The order appears to abandon the idea of diverting LWCF funds. However, it contains other problematic directives that restrict how LWCF can be spent and create more red tape for completing projects. The order also opens the door for public land sales to the states. 

Nationwide Reach:  The fund supports conservation in all 50 states - as you can see in this interactive map of LWCF projects. It funds initiatives in national parks, wildlife refuges, battlefields, local parks, ball fields, bike paths, and community playgrounds. 

Conservation Threatened:  The LWCF is our nation's largest and important funding source for land conservation. Adding restrictions and obstacles to LWCF funding threatens hundreds of recreation and land-acquisition projects. 

Support Organizations that Fight for LWCF:  The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition advocates specifically on behalf of the LWCF. Please follow them on social media. Engage with their posts to boost their reach.