If you enjoy the outdoors you more than likely recreate on public lands maintained by the US Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or Bureau of Land Management. You have experienced renovated trails, bathrooms, campgrounds, roads, and other services made possible by federal funding.
This September, the US Forest Service announced that due to a budget crisis, they will not hire seasonal or temporary workers except those who respond to forest fires in 2025. This will result in cutting more than 2,400 seasonal jobs, including trail crews, wilderness rangers, and other temporary staff reducing their ability to maintain trails, clean trailhead restrooms, collect trash, and provide essential services.
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) is set to run out of funding at the end of 2025. GAOA has made a considerable difference here in Washington. Since its implementation, the Forest Service has received $75 million for 33 projects across our state. To date, 300 projects have been completed and nearly 400 are in progress for improvements on Forest Service lands nationwide. GAOA also secures $900 million annually for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), the nation’s premier grant program to protect our parks, trails, wildlife habitat, and working lands across the country.
Our partners, The Mountaineers and Washington Trails Association (WTA), have both started advocacy campaigns for robust funding for the US Forest Service. Our partners at Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust along with WTA have started advocating to renew GAOA’s Legacy Restoration fund in 2026.
Advocacy Opportunities
The Mountaineers: Ask Congress to Fund the Forest Service
Washington Trails Association: Speak Up For Trails Funding
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust & WTA: Help Renew GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund