The Department of the Interior has issued Secretary’s Order 3442 and announced a record $437 million allocation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to states, territories and the District of Columbia.
The move is designed to expand access to outdoor recreation, restore natural areas and strengthen community infrastructure.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the actions reinforce the administration’s priorities of expanding recreation opportunities, cutting regulatory delays and ensuring that public lands remain accessible.
“Outdoor recreation is part of our national heritage, and these historic investments will help communities across the country expand access to green spaces, restore natural areas and create more opportunities for people to get outside,” Burgum said in a press release.
The allocation marks the largest annual disbursement in LWCF history. It will support the development and rehabilitation of parks, conservation areas and outdoor recreation facilities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
Since its establishment in 1965, the LWCF State and Local Assistance Program has provided matching grants to state, local and territorial governments for acquiring and developing public outdoor recreation areas. More than 45,000 projects have been funded nationwide over the program’s history.
The 2025 total includes $292.2 million from the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, $117.4 million from qualified revenues under Public Law 109-432, and $27.8 million from the Secretary’s Contingency Reserve Fund.
Secretary’s Order 3442 directs interior bureaus to collaborate with state and tribal governments to ensure investments target outdoor recreation infrastructure, with an emphasis on underserved and urban communities.
Burgum said the funding represents a continuation of the program’s original mission while addressing contemporary needs.
“The Land and Water Conservation Fund continues to deliver on its promise to connect Americans to the outdoors while protecting the landscapes that make our nation special,” he said.