FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2025

MCV blasts White House proposal that slashes conservation, threatens Montana public lands

Proposed FY26 Budget would dismantle core conservation tools, undermining public land protections across Montana and the West

(HELENA, Mont.) – The Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund (MCV) today condemned the White House’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which would slash over $5 billion in critical conservation funding and open the door to selling off public lands — including treasured landscapes across Montana.

At the heart of the cuts is the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a bedrock of Montana’s outdoor economy and public lands legacy. Despite being permanently funded through the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act in 2020, LWCF is again under threat — this time from a federal budget proposal that jeopardizes key investments and conservation infrastructure.

“For more than 50 years, LWCF has helped protect working lands, expand access, and fueled Montana’s outdoor economy in every county of the state,” said Whitney Tawney, Executive Director of MCV. “This budget doesn’t just threaten projects in progress — it strikes at the foundation of conservation in our state.”

Since its creation, Montana has received more than $649 million in LWCF investments, supporting everything from community parks to vital access points for hunters and anglers. Now, over $50 million in Montana-specific funding is hanging in the balance.

Additional damaging cuts in the proposal include:

• $1.2 billion from National Park Service and the disposal of park sites

• $783 million from U.S. Forest Service programs and public land sales

• Rollbacks in monument protections, tribal conservation programs, and private land conservation

These sweeping cuts follow a disturbing trend. In 2024, Congress rescinded $94 million in LWCF funding — setting a precedent that this budget now threatens to deepen. If enacted, the proposal could cripple conservation efforts, eliminate recreational access, and stall projects that communities across Montana are counting on.

In response, MCV has sent a letter to Montana’s congressional delegation urging them to reject the proposed cuts and stand up for Montana’s public lands and rural communities. The organization is also rallying public support with a statewide advocacy campaign opposing the budget.

“This isn’t just a line item in the federal ledger — it’s a direct attack on Montana’s way of life,” said Tawney. “We cannot afford to go backward. These cuts would devastate our outdoor legacy, put public safety at risk, and unravel decades of bipartisan conservation progress.”

MCV remains resolute in its commitment to defend Montana’s public lands, working alongside communities and elected leaders to protect the places that make our state special — for future generations and today.

MCV’s letter to the Montana delegation can be found online HERE and the form to contact Montana’s delegation can be found HERE.