Sponsors
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Lisa Murkowski · Last progress July 24, 2025
The bill shifts existing federal balances and allows flexible use of Interior funds to accelerate wildfire response, oversight, and targeted infrastructure and reclamation projects, but does so by redirecting or restricting other program funds and creating budgeting uncertainty—especially for tribes, state projects, and future IIJA priorities.
Rural communities, local governments, volunteer fire departments, and tribal lands see faster and more continuous wildfire and disaster response because DOI may use no‑year funds for suppression and burned‑land rehab, reimburse other agencies for lost equipment, transfer excess firefighting gear, and provide training to local responders.
State, tribal, and local governments receive new or redirected funding for clean water and wastewater projects through transfers to EPA STAG and related grant programs, supporting water infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
Tribal programs gain short‑term predictability and targeted equity adjustments because Tribal Priority Allocation funds can be redistributed to correct inequities and FY2026 contract support funding is constrained to specified headings, with limits on immediate reductions for tribes.
Taxpayers, state and local governments, and other program beneficiaries face reduced flexibility and potential cuts to non‑emergency programs because no‑year funds and unobligated IIJA balances are repurposed for emergencies and transfers, and replenishment depends on future supplemental appropriations.
Tribes may face uncertainty and reduced funding because redistribution of Tribal Priority Allocation (including authorized up to 10% reductions in FY2026) and limits on contract support cost availability can complicate budgeting and may withhold retroactive or owed reimbursements.
State revolving fund water projects could see higher costs or delays because Buy‑American iron and steel requirements may make domestic materials harder or more expensive to procure.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Gives Interior limited authority to use/transfer appropriated and no‑year funds for emergencies, imposes administrative limits and reporting, restricts some mining patent processing, and transfers specified IIJA unobligated balances to DOI accounts and OIG.
Allows the Department of the Interior to move and use appropriated funds, including some no‑year funds, for emergency reconstruction, repair, and response (fires, floods, storms, oil spills, mine reclamation, pest outbreaks, etc.) when dedicated emergency balances are exhausted, and requires those amounts be replenished by supplemental appropriation. Establishes administrative restrictions on how agencies may use appropriations (including prohibitions on advocacy and on processing certain mining patent applications), sets oversight and reporting requirements, limits certain contract support payments, and directs specific transfers of unobligated Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) balances to Interior accounts and the DOI Office of Inspector General.