Section 60301 of the IRA appropriates $125 million to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“U.S. FWS”) to develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of endangered and threatened species under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1533(f). The appropriated funds are available until expended.
Current Status:
Section 60017 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (Public Law 119-21) rescinded unobligated funds under this IRA provision.
Trump Administration Actions:
- Congress Passes Budget Bill, Rescinding Funds and Repealing IRA Programs and Tax Credits [07/03/2025]
- Litigation Compliance Report Indicates DOI Released Some Previously Frozen Awards [04/23/2025]
- DOI Secretary Issues Order to Review IRA Regulations and Spending [02/03/2025]
- OMB Orders Temporary Pause on Financial Assistance Programs, Later Rescinded [01/27/2025]
- OMB Clarifies Scope of the Order to Halt IRA Spending [01/21/2025]
- Trump Issues Executive Order to Halt All IRA Funding Disbursements [01/20/2025]
Implementation Status at End of Biden Administration:
DOI press releases indicate that the agency has awarded half of the $125 million of appropriated funds under this section to support recovery of 32 species. Approximately $62 million is left unspent as of January 2025.
Biden Administration Actions:
Program Stakes:
DOI’s conservation, restoration, and resilience-related IRA provisions are critical to addressing the climate crisis and associated biodiversity loss. DOI released a framework that identifies nine initiatives to make meaningful climate impacts with the funding, covering topics including drought, coastal resilience, wildfires, rivers, islands, and more.