An official website of the United States government
          Here's how you know
        Here's how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
              
              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Https**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock** (   Locked padlock
 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.  Newsroom
                                
                          
        
                Vote.gov Accessibility Menu
  

        
        Accessibility Menu
      Toggle Font Size
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle OpenDyslexic
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme
                                        
                                
          
                    Contact Us
 *U.S. Department of the Interior*
Menu


    close

        
        
                        
        
        
  
  
          About
      
                
        
        
  
  
          About
                    Interior
              
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Meet the Secretary
      
                        
                    
      
              Interior Leadership
      
                        
                    
      
              Departmental Offices
      
                        
                    
      
              History of the Interior
      
                        
                    
      
                      Join
              
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Careers
      
                        
                    
      
              Pathways Program
      
                        
                    
      
              Veterans Employment
      
                        
                    
      
              Volunteer
    
  

      
              
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureaus
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Bureaus
                    Bureaus
              
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Bureau of Indian Affairs
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Indian Education
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Land Management
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Reclamation
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement
      
                        
                    
      
              Bureau of Trust Funds Administration
      
                        
                    
      
              National Park Service
      
                        
                    
      
              Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement
      
                        
                    
      
              U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
      
                        
                    
      
              U.S. Geological Survey
    
  

      
              
      
                        
                    
      
              Priorities
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Priorities
                    Addressing the Drought Crisis
      
                        
                    
      
                      Advancing Environmental Justice
      
                        
                    
      
                      America the Beautiful
      
                        
                    
      
                      Clean Energy Future
      
                        
                    
      
                      Increasing Outdoor Access
      
                        
                    
      
                      Investing in America
      
                        
                    
      
                      Strengthening Indian Country
      
                        
                    
      
                      Tackling the Climate Crisis
    
  

      
              
      
                        
                    
      
              Media
      
                
        
        
  
  
          Media
                    Blog
      
                        
                    
      
                      Press Releases
      
                        
                    
      
                      Media Contacts
      
                        
                    
      
                      Multimedia
    
  

      
              
      
    
          
    
  



Search

  Search


          
          
                      Newsroom
                                
                          
        
                Vote.govAccessibility Menu
  

        
        Accessibility Menu
      Toggle Font Size
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle OpenDyslexic
                                        
                                
          
                    Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme
                                        
                                
          
                    Contact Us
  


Breadcrumb
        Home
                            Great American Outdoors Act


  Share
  FacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditPinterest

  Great American Outdoors Act

*Investments to Protect the Lands and Waters that Sustain Our Nation*
      

            sunset-over-sacramento-recreational-river-blm-bob-wick.jpg
“*Through the Great American Outdoors Act, we are making critical investments that will create tens of thousands of jobs, safeguard the environment, and help ensure that national parks and public lands are ready to meet the challenges of climate change and increased visitation.*”
—**Secretary Deb Haaland**
It has never been more important to invest in America’s public lands and waters to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness, create good-paying jobs, and help combat climate change.
Through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), the Department of the Interior is investing in much-needed maintenance for critical facilities and infrastructure in our national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, recreation areas, and Tribal schools. Signed into law in 2020, GAOA authorized up to $1.6 billion annually for five years to fund deferred maintenance projects on public lands and at Tribal schools.
GAOA also provides permanent, full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually to improve recreational opportunities on public lands, protect watersheds and wildlife and preserve ecosystem benefits for local communities. This includes the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program, which is the only LWCF competitive grant program dedicated to addressing the recreational  gap in underserved urban areas. The LWCF has funded $4 billion worth of projects in every county in the country for over 50 years.
**These unprecedented investments will support tens of thousands of jobs, improve public access and visitor experiences, advance environmental justice and contribute billions of dollars to local economies.**
In 2021 alone, the Department’s GAOA investments will support an estimated 18,851 jobs and contribute $2 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product.
These investments also benefit underserved communities and help advance the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to racial equity. GAOA projects will provide an economic boost to underserved communities, contribute to the remediation and reduction of legacy pollution, develop clean water infrastructure and invest in Bureau of Indian Education-funded schools.
We are committed to addressing the long-delayed maintenance needs of the nation’s aging buildings and infrastructure. Together we will improve the nation’s conservation and recreation opportunities, protect our national treasures for future generations, and invest in local economies.
Resources:
Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Webpage
Bureau of Land Management GAOA Webpage
National Park Service GAOA Webpage
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service GAOA Webpage
Was this page helpful?
    
      Yes
No
This page was not helpful because the content:
          

        
  
      Please provide a comment


  
Leave this field blankReturn to top
    
          Subscribe
    
      Enter your email address to subscribe to Interior news and updates


  Leave this field blank
Section Title
  

        
      About DOI
                              Accessibility
                              Contact Us
                              Copyright
                              Disclaimer
                              Information Quality
                              Privacy Policy
                              Site Map
                              Vulnerability Disclosure PolicySection Title
  

        
      Budget & Performance
                              Coronavirus Updates
                              Cummings Act Notices
                              Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights
                              FOIA
                              Inspector General
                              No Fear Act reports
                              Open Government Initiative
    
          U.S. Department of the Interior
                    Stewarding Conservation and Powering Our Future

                          1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240