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Provides federal funding and a grant program to conserve and restore habitat for the western monarch butterfly and other pollinators, establishes a dedicated Rescue Fund, and requires annual status reports to Congress. It directs the Interior Department to run a competitive grant program, partner with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to update and carry out a conservation plan, and authorizes $12.5 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 (with up to 3% of the Fund available each year for administration). Grants will support habitat protection, restoration, management, planning, community outreach, and related monitoring; the Secretary must report yearly on butterfly status and funded projects, and projects funded through the regional conservation plan must be summarized.
The population of western monarch butterflies is at imminent risk of extinction.
Over the past three decades, the western monarch population has declined by more than 99 percent, and the decline is attributed to prolonged drought, loss of milkweed and native pollinator habitat, loss of breeding and overwintering habitat, and climate change.
In 2020, the western monarch population reached a new historic low of 1,914 butterflies, falling below the predicted extinction threshold for the third year in a row.
In 2024, the western monarch population reached the second lowest on record, with fewer than 10,000 butterflies recorded.
The extinction of the migratory western monarch butterfly population is likely to occur within the next two decades if urgent action is not taken.
Directly affected parties include federal program managers (Department of the Interior), state wildlife agencies, Tribal governments, local governments, nonprofit conservation organizations, academic institutions, and other partners eligible to apply for grants. These entities can receive competitive funding to restore and protect overwintering, breeding, and migratory habitat, carry out monitoring and research, and conduct outreach. Tribal governments are explicitly defined and can participate as applicants or partners.
Conservation project funding and plan implementation are expected to lead to expanded native-plant restoration, habitat protection, and coordinated conservation actions across states — benefiting monarchs, other pollinators, and nearby agricultural producers that rely on pollination services. The requirement for annual Congressional reporting increases federal oversight and transparency.
Practically, the legislation authorizes but does not itself appropriate funds; the impact depends on future appropriations and actual disbursement timing. Up to 3% for administration limits overhead and directs most funds to on-the-ground work. The partnership with NFWF may expedite plan updates and leverage existing conservation networks, while the reporting and technical-assistance requirements aim to improve project effectiveness and public access to results.
Potential limitations and considerations: the program’s scale (authorized amounts) is modest relative to range-wide habitat needs, so long-term recovery will likely require additional funding and complementary state, local, and private actions. The bill does not impose mandates on states or private landowners; participation in projects is voluntary.
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Introduced June 18, 2025 by Jeff Merkley · Last progress June 18, 2025
MONARCH Act of 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Introduced in Senate