MONARCH Act of 2025

This bill focuses on saving the western monarch butterfly, which has dropped by more than 99% over the last 30 years and could disappear within two decades without quick action. It points to causes like drought, loss of milkweed and other habitat, and climate change, and notes that boosting pollinators can help nearby farms and wildlife areas too.

It would set up a federal grant program, run by the Department of the Interior, to fund local and Tribal projects that restore milkweed, nectar plants, breeding sites, and overwintering areas. Nonprofits and research groups can also apply. State and federal agencies can partner, but they cannot be the lead or receive the grants themselves. Projects must show clear benefits, coordinate with wildlife and Tribal authorities, and share progress reports; these reports must be made public. The Department must also provide technical help to grantees .

The bill creates a “Western Monarch Butterfly Rescue Fund” and authorizes $12.5 million per year for 2026–2030 for grants (with up to 3% for admin costs). It also authorizes another $12.5 million per year in those same years to carry out a multi-state conservation plan through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Each year by January 31, the Department must report to Congress on the butterflies’ status and how funded projects are doing .

Key points

• Who is affected: Communities and lands in California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah; local and Tribal governments; nonprofits; research institutions; nearby farms and ecosystems that benefit from pollination.
• What changes: New grants for habitat work; a dedicated Rescue Fund; public reporting on project results; work to update and carry out a west-wide conservation plan .
• When: Funding is authorized for fiscal years 2026 through 2030; annual reports are due each January 31 .