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May 2, 2025 - Washington, D.C. - President Donald Trump released his budget outline today for federal fiscal year 2026. The so-called “skinny budget” would reduce the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) budget by more than 18% from existing levels. As part of those cuts, conservation technical assistance (CTA) at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) would be slashed by $754 million.  

The NRCS website states that “CTA provides our nation’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain, and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.” 

“Providing conservation technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and private foresters is at the core of our mission at Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, and is critical to addressing the economic and resource concerns of rural America,” said Ron Leathers, chief conservation officer at PF & QF. “This skinny budget is out of alignment with USDA’s mission of putting farmers first and would be catastrophic to America’s agricultural producers as they work to modernize their operations in the face of market uncertainty, supply chain expectations, and land development pressures.” 

The budget proposal would also cut $3.8 billion from Department of the Interior and $1.3 billion from U.S. Forest Service spending, including reducing certain line items for conservation and recreation. Though the president proposes a budget, it is the responsibility of Congress to set annual funding levels; PF & QF will continue to advocate to both Congress and the Trump Administration to fund the most essential activities that support habitat conservation and the people who live, work, and recreate across the landscape.  

About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 480,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 28.8 million acres.

Media Contact
Casey Sill
402-657-4143
csill@pheasantsforever.org