Biden’s budget saves wild horses from Trump’s proposed funding cuts
President Joe Biden’s latest budget plan has secured full funding for the Bureau of Land Management’s wild horse and burro programme. The move contrasts sharply with former President Donald Trump’s earlier proposal to slash the same budget by nearly 25%. Lawmakers had warned that such cuts could worsen overcrowding on western rangelands.
Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget request had targeted deep reductions in BLM funding. Overall, the agency’s budget faced a 33% cut, dropping from $1.4 billion to $936 million. Within that, the wild horse and burro programme would have seen its funding fall from $144 million to $106 million.
Critics argued that lower funding would harm efforts to manage thousands of horses and burros. Overcrowded rangelands in the West already strain resources, and further cuts could make the situation worse.
Biden’s finalised plan, however, maintains the full $144 million for the programme. This ensures continued support for managing wild herds and protecting fragile ecosystems.
The approved budget avoids the steep reductions proposed under Trump’s plan. With $144 million now secured, the BLM can maintain its current operations for wild horse and burro management. The decision removes immediate concerns about worsening overcrowding on public lands.
