The Administration’s FY22 request for the Department of the Interior (DOI) is $17.4 billion, a $2.4 billion or 16 percent increase from the FY21 enacted level. As anticipated, there is a dramatic shift from the last administration’s focus on fossil fuel development to President Biden’s clean energy and equity focused budget priorities for the DOI.

As with the rest of this budget outline, details are slim but what we know so far is the $2.4 billion increase includes:

• $450 million towards reclaiming orphaned oil and gas wells and abandoned mines on federal and non-federal lands.
• $600 million more than the FY2021 enacted level towards various agencies under DOI Indian Affairs. This includes funding for education, clean energy development, law enforcement and court programs on tribal land.
• An additional $20 million to the Park Service for expanded access to national parks that preserve history of marginalized communities, as well as funding for a voting rights center that honors the legacy of Civil Rights leaders.
• $550 million more than the FY21 enacted level to decrease “climate pollution, accelerate clean energy deployment, and expand efforts around climate adaptation and ecosystem resilience” across all DOI’s land management agencies.
• $200 million over the FY21 enacted level for the U.S. Geological Survey and other bureaus to fund data collection on climate change impacts and provide information on how to fight the climate crisis, especially for coastal, fire-prone and vulnerable communities.
• $200 million for conservation to reach the 30 by 30 goal (30 percent of land and water conserved by 2030) and for the establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps.
• $340 million for hazardous fuels management and burned area rehabilitation projects to reduce wildfire risks

Today’s outline did not include a topline budget figure for the Bureau of Reclamation, but it highlighted funding for water conservation, WaterSMART grants, reclamation investments, and addressing other risk areas like drought.

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