American Mountaineering Society • American Trails • American Motorcyclist Affiliation • Again Nation Horsemen of America • Equine Land Conservation Useful resource • Worldwide Mountain Bicycling Affiliation • Nationwide Wilderness Stewardship Alliance • Partnership for the Nationwide Trails System • Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
+ 166 Organizations and Entities
Chair Simpson, Rating Member Pingree, and members of the subcommittee, on behalf of American Mountaineering Society, and the organizations listed under, representing thousands and thousands of path customers, we urge you to construct in your FY26 work by growing trails and recreation administration funding. This funding is important to our nationwide economic system and the nonprofit companions who at present shoulder the vast majority of path upkeep. As federal staffing modifications shift extra obligations onto NGOs, these companions are pressured to do extra with much less help. Elevated funding is important to offset inflation, cowl rising operational prices, and guarantee these essential federal partnerships proceed.
Abstract of Requests
Forest Service:
Capital Enchancment and Upkeep (CMTL), Trails at $24M
Report Language: Non-governmental companions play an outsized function within the upkeep of Forest Service Trails finishing over 60% of all upkeep based mostly on 2025 Forest Service knowledge. The Forest Service is directed to make the most of funding to extend monetary help of those partnerships to handle upkeep wants given present company staffing and capability.
Report Language: As a way to help satisfactory funding for all Forest Service trails and to keep away from a discount within the present funds for non-Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails managed by the Forest Service, will increase for non-Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails ought to happen in parity with the speed of will increase for Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails.
$70M to fund Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness (echoing request of Out of doors Alliance)
At the very least $6M to fund Legacy Roads & Trails, together with the Path Stewardship Grant Program–Legacy Roads & Trails.
Report Language: The committee helps continued funding for the Nationwide Forest System Path Stewardship Path Associate Funding Program. The Forest Service has had a profitable Path Stewardship Associate Funding program in place since 2017 that leverages federal funding by 6:1.
Bureau of Land Administration:
Nationwide Conservation Lands, Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails at $11.496M
Nationwide Conservation Lands at $78M (echoing request of Conservation Lands Basis)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
Refuge Customer Companies at the very least $76M;
Department of Transportation & Knowledge Administration – Headquarters
Report Language: Nationwide Partnerships are an vital part to take care of path infrastructure throughout Fish and Wildlife Service websites. The Division shall proceed to help Nationwide Partnerships within the Department of Transportation & Knowledge Administration and throughout Headquarters and prioritize funding to leverage these partnerships.
Nationwide Park Service:
Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Help (RTCA) program at $13.47M (echoing request of American Rivers)
Park Service Operations for the Nationwide Trails System at a minimal of $18.856M
Volunteers in Parks packages at $7.717M
Customer Companies sub-activity, Youth Partnership Packages at $14.665M
Out of doors Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program, at $130M
US Geological Survey:
$1.5M to totally fund the Nationwide Digital Path Undertaking (NDTP)
Forest Service Suggestion:
Nationwide Forests present 159,000 miles of closely used trails of all sorts, however this very important public useful resource is severely underfunded and understaffed. At present, over half of the path system requires upkeep. A December 2025 Forest Service report revealed a 15-year low in accomplishments, with maintained miles dropping by 22% and trails assembly requirements falling by 19%. With out speedy motion, the company warns of irreversible infrastructure loss, restricted public entry, diminished financial advantages to rural communities, and severely degraded belief from each companions and the general public.
Program: Capital Enchancment and Upkeep, Trails
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $24M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $22M
Division: US Division of Agriculture
Company/Account: Forest Service, Capital Enchancment and Upkeep, Trails
Report Language requested:
Non-governmental companions play an outsized function within the upkeep of Forest Service Trails finishing over 60% of all upkeep based mostly on 2025 Forest Service knowledge. The Forest Service is directed to make the most of funding to extend monetary help of those partnerships to handle upkeep wants given present company staffing and capability.
As a way to help satisfactory funding for all Forest Service trails and to keep away from a discount within the present funds for non-Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails managed by the Forest Service, will increase for non-Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails ought to happen in parity with the speed of will increase for Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails.
Program: Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $70M to fund Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness;
FY26 Enacted Stage: $45M
Division: US Division of Agriculture
Company/Account: Forest Service, Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness
Program: Legacy Roads & Trails
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $6M at a minimal
FY26 Enacted Stage: $6M
Division: US Division of Agriculture
Company/Account: Forest Service, Legacy Roads & Trails
Report Language Requested: The committee helps continued funding for the Nationwide Forest System Path Stewardship Path Associate Funding Program. The Forest Service has had a profitable Path Stewardship Associate Funding program in place since 2017 that leverages federal funding by 6:1.
Bureau of Land Administration Suggestion:
The BLM manages 13,468 miles of trails over 245 million acres—extra land than some other
federal land administration company. These lands comprise a wide range of ecosystems and landscapes
that always present the general public much less structured however nonetheless various leisure alternatives.
BLM recreation sources and customer providers help robust native economies. Greater than 120
city facilities and hundreds of rural cities (comprising 64 million individuals) are situated inside 25
miles of BLM lands.
Program: Nationwide Conservation Lands, Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails
FY27 Funding Stage Requested:$11.496M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $11.248M
Division: Bureau of Land Administration
Company/Account: Nationwide Conservation Lands, Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails
Program: Nationwide Conservation Lands
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $78M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $59.135M
Division: Bureau of Land Administration
Company/Account: Bureau of Land Administration, Nationwide Conservation Lands
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Suggestion:
Managing over 2,500 miles of trails, together with throughout 15 Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails and 44 Nationwide Recreation Trails, the FWS requires expanded, devoted funding by means of Refuge and Customer Companies and the Department of Transportation & Knowledge Administration. We particularly request funding and report language to help “Infrastructure-Nationwide Partnerships” inside the Department of Transportation & Knowledge Administration – Headquarters These nonprofit cooperative agreements are very important for leveraging restricted FWS sources to handle important path upkeep and development throughout the system.
Program: Customer Companies
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $76M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $74.5M
Division: Division of Inside
Company/Account: Fish and Wildlife Service, Customer Companies
Program: Department of Transportation & Knowledge Administration – Headquarters
Division: Division of Inside
Company/Account: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Transportation & Knowledge Administration- Headquarters
Report Language requested: Nationwide Partnerships are an vital part to take care of path infrastructure throughout Fish and Wildlife Service websites. The Division shall proceed to help Nationwide Partnerships within the Department of Transportation & Knowledge Administration and throughout Headquarters and prioritize funding to leverage these partnerships.
Nationwide Park Service Suggestion:
Nationwide parks, and the world-class experiences their 18,844 miles of trails present, are one of the vital unifying forces in America. Effectively-maintained trails enhance the standard of customer experiences and improve customer security.
Program: Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Help (RTCA)
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $13.47M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $13M
Division: Division of Inside
Company/Account: Nationwide Park Service, Nationwide Recreation and Preservation
Report Language requested: Inside, Nationwide Recreation and Preservation, $13.47M for the Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Help program.
Program: Nationwide Trails System, Park Service Operations
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $18.856M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $18.856M
Division: Division of Inside
Company/Account: Nationwide Park Service, Park Service Operations
Report Language requested:
Inside, Park Service Operations, $18.856M for administration of the Nationwide Trails System.
Nationwide Trails System.-The Committees perceive the significance of offering satisfactory funding for the event and upkeep of the Nationwide Trails System for future generations to take pleasure in. The Committees urge the Service to proceed its efforts to develop Nationwide Scenic and Historic Trails, not restricted to supporting development and upkeep tasks and volunteer coordination efforts.
Program: Volunteers in Parks
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $7.717M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $7.717M
Division: Division of Inside
Company/Account: Nationwide Park Service, Park Partnership Assist Capabilities
Report Language Requested: The committee recommends funding by means of Volunteers in Parks be supplied for volunteer help of the Nationwide Trails System, Nationwide Rivers, and Nationwide Park Service trails.
Program: Youth Partnership Packages
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $14.665M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $14.665M
Division: Division of Inside
Company/Account: Nationwide Park Service, Customer Companies
Report Language Requested: The committee recommends funding by means of the Youth Partnership Packages be supplied for help of the Nationwide Trails System, Nationwide Rivers, and Nationwide Park Service trails.
Program: Out of doors Recreation Legacy Partnership
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $130M
FY26 Enacted Stage: $125M
Division: Division of Inside
Company/Account: Nationwide Park Service, State Conservation Grants
Report Language Requested: The committee recommends funding by means of the Out of doors Recreation Legacy Partnership Program be supplied for help of trails.
US Geological Survey Suggestion:
To help the DOI’s mission of increasing out of doors entry, the USGS Nationwide Digital Trails Undertaking supplies three important sources: the TRAILS net software for figuring out community connectivity, a nationwide public-domain digital database, and a cell upkeep protocol that leverages exterior apps to share real-time upkeep knowledge with land managers.
Program: Nationwide Digital Path Undertaking
FY27 Funding Stage Requested: $1.5M
FY26 Enacted Stage:$1.35M
Division: U.S. Geological Survey
Company/Account: U.S. Geological Survey, Core Science Methods
Respectfully,
American Mountaineering Society • American Trails • American Motorcyclist Affiliation • Again Nation Horsemen of America • Equine Land Conservation Useful resource • Worldwide Mountain Bicycling Affiliation • Nationwide Wilderness Stewardship Alliance • Partnership for the Nationwide Trails System • Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and
