LANDOWNER INFO ALERT
FEDERAL FUNDING & STAFFING
As our CEO, Lesli Allison, indicated in her recent letter and interview regarding federal policy, now is a critical time for landowners to weigh in on behalf of western working lands. Your voice is important. Here are two ways you weigh in:
If you want to provide input on what's working and not working with the federal system and reform processes, share that information with us here, as well as with your members in Congress. Tell them what is working for you, as well as what is not working and how it could work better.
If you are being affected by the funding freeze and staffing cuts, we encourage you to connect with your members in Congress (here is a helpful template), the US Department of Agriculture, the Department of Interior, your Governor’s office, and your state Department of Agriculture. In addition, please share that information with us here.
More ways to take action
Invite your representatives to tour your farm or ranch.
Invite your members of Congress to tour your farm or ranch, host a landowner town hall, or invite them to join a landowner roundtable discussion. Work with other landowners in your area to organize a meeting or event with your member of Congress. When scheduling, keep in mind that members of Congress will be back for state and district work periods (Congressional recess) during the week of March 17, and then again for two weeks starting April 14.
Visit with the district staff of your congressperson.
Request a meeting with the district staff of your congressional office. Since district offices heavily focus on constituent casework, they are eager to hear from you and can elevate your concerns to their colleagues in DC. Contact information for district offices can be found on member websites.
Advocate on Capitol Hill with us.
Travel to Washington, DC. We are planning a visit to our nation's capitol to meet with representatives and officials in person in the near future. If you’re interested in joining us for meetings on Capitol Hill, please let us know!
Tell your story in the press.
Share your thoughts and tell your story to local news reporters. If you’re not sure who to reach out to, contact our communications director, Louis Wertz.
Write a letter to the editor.
Submit a letter to the editor of your local paper. It sounds old-fashioned, but it still works.
Stay up to date. Make sure you get our emails.
Membership in the alliance is free, and it is the best way to ensure you're getting current, thoughtful information about what is happening on federal policy that affects working lands, connected landscapes and native species in the West.
Background Information
We are providing this information for your reference regarding the shifts we are experiencing in federal policy. As new information becomes available, we will continue to update this information on our website.
- In January 2025, the new leadership at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began a review of funding awards to ensure alignment with various White House directives and executive orders. Funding reimbursements have been paused during the review. Most of the paused funding was authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
- On February 14, 2025, termination notices were sent to USDA employees on probationary status (new hires in their first or second year of work or experienced employees in a new position). An estimated 1,200 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff – mostly field office employees – were fired. A judge recently ruled against the firings, issuing a 45-day stay.
- On February 20, 2025, the administration announced the release of the first tranche of IRA funding – approximately $20 million in reimbursements owed to producers under active IRA-funded EQIP, CSP, or ACEP contracts. These are active signed contracts between NRCS and producers through Farm Bill programs but that use IRA funds. Producers are owed much more than $20 million through signed EQIP, CSP, and ACEP IRA contracts, and it is unclear if there will be additional reimbursement rounds.
Our Policy Platform
WLA’s work is led and informed by experienced landowners and managers who have a vested stake in both the economic and environmental well being of the West’s great landscapes and rural communities. As a nation, it is essential that we reinvest in the land, natural resources and people that sustain us all. Read WLA’s policy platform to learn more.
Join WLA to stay up to date on the most important news and policy for land stewards.
Become a member for free today and we will send you the news and policy developments critical to the economic and ecological health of working lands.
WLA works on behalf of landowners and practitioners throughout the West. We will never share your contact information with anyone.
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Western Landowners Alliance is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS.